An accused in a murder case has been allegedly killed through physical torture in police remand in Rajshahi, complained Ms. US Begum Rokeya, maternal aunt of the victim and a retired college teacher.
The victim has been identified as Kanak Chowdhury (33) son of Nawajesh Chowdhury of village Chakrail under Badalgachhi upazila of Naogaon district. Kanak used to stay at his aunt's house at Bilshimla area of the city.
Begum Rokeya and her husband late advocate Mozammel Hoque Talukder were an issueless couple and Kanak Chowdhury used to stay with them. Begum Rokeya complained, by being influenced by the people of the plaintiff, police killed her nephew Kanak. Begum Rokeya went to file a case in this connection accusing 11- police members including the investigation officer of the case who took Kanak in remand at Rajpara police station on Wednesday but Officer-in-charge of Rajpara PS did not accept the case.
As a result, Rokeya filed a written complaint with the Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police on Thursday, the copies of the complaint has also been sent to the Home Ministry and the Police Headquarters.
Officer-in-charge Shahadat Hossain Khan in this connection informed, the case can not be received since the autopsy report of Kanak's death has not yet been received. The case will be accepted had there been any 'ground' to file a case in this regard.
Begum Rokeya is also an accused in the same case in which Kanak has been accused of. The murder case was filed accusing Begum Rokeya and her nephew Kanak for the death of Advocate Mozammel Haque Talukder, husband of Begum Rokeya. Since Rajpara thana police did not accept the murder case, the plaintiffs filed the case with the court.
Now, Begum Rokeya has accused 11 persons in connection with the death of Kanak. Of the accused, the prime accused has been mentioned as the Sub-inspector of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Rajshahi, the Investigation Officer of the case and the rests are from the people of her inlaws.
To the complaint submitted to RMP Commissioner Begum Rokeya informed, the landed properties of her fathers-in-law has not yet been distributed. Since she has no issue, Kanak used to stay with him and looked after the properties.
Being frustrated with the mental torment and a deteriorating relation with his brother and nephews regarding the sharing of properties, Advocate Mozammel Haque, husband of Begum Rokeya committed suicide by hanging last year. After the death of her husband, Begum Rokeya wanted the share of properties of her husband which enraged the people of her inlaws and they filed a murder case accusing Rokeya and Kanak. But, both of them managed to get bail from the higher court.
But, the Investigation Officer being allegedly influenced by the plaintiffs, applied for a remand for Kanak Chowdhury on November 28 with the court on November-28 last year and the court granted a two-day remand. Kanak was allegedly tortured by police during the remand and he was then sent to Rajshahi Central Jail. Later on, the authorities of RCJ sent Kanak Chowdhury to the prison cell of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated where he died on last Monday( May-4) and the dead body of Kanak was handed over to his relatives in Naogaon after autopsy where he was buried.
It is alleged in the complaint that during remand, Kanak was severely beaten with sticks on his back. As a result, his backside became black with blood stains and flesh of surrounding areas got rotten.
Infection was noticed behind the knee of right leg and part of belly was also rotten with his testicles swollen. He was not even given proper treatment and he died following the torture. Even, in the death certificate issued by RMCH also mentioned the cause of death of Kanak due to infection in three spots of the body. However, Dr. Naoshad Ali, Principal of RMCH refused to talk to the journalists in connection with the autopsy report due to a restriction.
Begum Rokeya demanded punishment for those involved in the death of Kanak. She said, Kanak was the heir of her property that is why he has been killed in a planned way and Kanak and she has been intricates in a fabricated murder case to plunder her properties.
SI Jamal Uddin, however, refused to impose any torture on Kanak during remand. He said, in accordance with the directives of the court, the accused was sent to RMCH for health check-up before and after the remand. The accused was brought to the remand in a full healthy condition and also sent to the jail in the same condition. The allegation of torture on remand is false, he said.
Abul Kalam Azad, Director of PBI said, he is unaware of any such incident.