5 tortured in Cox's Bazar: High Court to intervene if irregularity found in inquiry

The High Court today said it will intervene if any irregularity takes place in the inquiry into the torture of five people -- including three women -- in Cox's Bazar.

The court also said it has kept the reported incident in its surveillance.

The HC bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice AKM Zahirul Huq said this after two lawyers placed the newspaper reports on the incident for a suomuto (voluntary) order to this effect.

Lawyers Jasmine Sultana and Jamiul Hoque Faisal placed the reports published on The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and Ittefaq today.                                

According to The Daily Star report, five people, including three women, were tortured in broad daylight following a "cattle theft" incident at Harbang union in Cox's Bazar's Chakoria.

The five, including four of a family, were paraded through villages after their hands and waists were tied by ropes on Friday. A mother, her son and two daughters are among them.

They were then handed over to Harbang police outpost, from where the five were taken to Chakoria Upazila Health Complex. After primary treatment, they were brought to Chakoria Police Station.

The deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar has formed a three-member probe committee, led by Shabasti Roy, deputy director of local government department, to investigate the incident. 

The committee has been asked to submit a report within seven working days, according to The Daily Star report.