<i>ASP allegedly beats up two for not signing on stamp</i>
Victims of alleged police torture and arrest on a 'false' case on Saturday, madrasa teacher Golam Kabir and his brother-in-law Rezaul Karim show all signs of dejection after their release on bail yesterday. Rezaul Karim exposes his injury marks caused by beating allegedly by the assistant superintendent of police of Gomostapur Circle in Rajshahi district. Photo: STAR
A madrasa teacher and his relative were brutally tortured allegedly by the assistant superintendent of police - ASP (Gomostapur Circle) on Saturday following their refusal to put signature on a stamp under pressure. Police also arrested the victims -- Golam Kabir, 40, a teacher of Boalia Madrasa in Gomostapur upazila under Chapainawabganj district, and Rezaul Karim Bura, 32, both of Choudala village in Gomostapur, from the ASP's office the same day. A local influential person, instigated by police, filed a false case against them at 3:15pm that day, said the victims who were released on bail yesterday afternoon. "On Friday last, I received an urgent notice [Gomostapur Circle office betar barta No 34 dated 29.06.2010] from Gomostapur police station to attend an arbitration at the office of ASP Gomostapur Circle for resolving a land dispute," said Rezaul Karim. Golam Kabir also received the same notice. Following the notice, the two persons went to the ASP's office at around 9:30am on Saturday. Two parties attended the arbitration and Golam Kabir and Rezaul Karim said they would show their documents. But instead of seeing the papers, ASP Siddiqur Rahman pressed them to put signature on a non-judicial stamp. As they declined to do so, the ASP got angry and beat them up mercilessly, the victims said. Their opponent, Bodiur Rahman of Choudala village in Gomostapur upazila filed a case with Gomostapur police station accusing nine people including Golam Kabir and Rezaul Karim Bura on Saturday afternoon. According to the case statement, the nine accused went to the disputed land at Nandalalpur at around 11:00am on June 10, collected at least 20 maunds of mangoes by force and damaged a part of the mango orchard. On Saturday evening, Gomostapur police brought arrested Golam Kabir and Rezaul Karim Bura to Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital for treatment. Afterwards, police produced them before the Judicial Magistrate's Court that sent them to jail. Following a prayer by the lawyer of Golam Kabir and Rezaul Karim, the court yesterday granted them bail. When contacted, ASP Siddiqur Rahman said he does not know where or when the two persons were arrested. He also denied torturing them. Investigation officer of the case, ASI Sarwar declined to comment on the matter. Rezaul Karim's younger sister Baby Begum, also wife of Golam Kabir, yesterday sent a prayer to the home minister seeking justice for torture on her brother and husband. A case has been going on for long with Bodiur Rahman for a disputed land at Nandalalpur under Gomostapur upazila, said relatives of the two torture victims.
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