Take steps against Baufal ASP

The High Court yesterday directed the inspector general of police (IGP) to take appropriate steps against a subordinate official for torturing an accused in Patuakhali.

The court passed the order after accepting a police probe report that said Assistant Superintendent of Police (Baufal Circle) Saiful Islam had tortured Hafizur Rahman at Baufal Police Station on February 12, Deputy Attorney General Tapas Kumar Biswas told The Daily Star.

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Earlier in the day, the IGP office submitted the probe report to the HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah through DAG Tapas as per a previous order.

In the report, the IGP said two police officials had jointly conducted the investigation into an allegation brought against ASP Saiful. During the probe it has been proved that Saiful severely beat up Hafiz after taking him to the room of the officer-in-charge of Baufal police on February 12.

Later on February 20, the HC bench issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the alleged incident of torture should not be declared illegal and why they should not be ordered to compensate the victim.

In the rule, the court also asked the authorities to show cause as to why appropriate legal action would not be taken against the police personnel involved in the torture.

The bench came up with the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by Hafizur's mother Josna Begum seeking necessary directives on the responsible police personnel.

She submitted the writ petition to the HC annexing a report published in the daily Janakantha on February 14 over the incident of police torture of her son.

According to the report, Sub-Inspector Ferdaus arrested Hafizur and took him in custody on February 12.

At midnight, Hafizur was brought to the office room of the OC and beaten up with sticks, the report said, adding that OC Azam Khan was not at office at that time.

OC Azam Khan told the newspaper that ASP Saiful Islam interrogated Hafizur at his (OC's) office but did not torture him.

The HC yesterday disposed of the rule, DAG Tapas said, adding that ASP Saiful has been transferred to the police headquarters in Dhaka following the HC rule.