Custodial death in Rangpur: HC orders police not to harass victim’s family, locals

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday ordered the Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner to take steps so that that the victim's family and local people are not harassed over the custodial death of Tajul Islam at Haragach police station in Rangpur.

The HC bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Khandaker Diliruzzaman passed the order.

The court also adjourned the hearing in the case for one week.

Advocate Jyotirmoy Barua read out a media report on November 2 alleging the torture and murder of Tajul Islam in police custody.

The court then asked the state counsel to look into the matter. Following this, the matter came up for hearing on November 3.

On that day, the court passed an order with a rule to submit the report of the four-member probe committee, the autopsy report and the copy of the unnatural death case by November 11.

Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta said the committee's report and information have already been submitted to the court. Time was sought from the court to submit the viscera report.

The court adjourned the hearing for a week until Wednesday, he said.

Amit Das Gupta further said that the lawyers of the victim’s side alleged that locals were being harassed. Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner was directed to ensure that no one from the victim’s family and the local people are harassed until the viscera report is received.

Tajul Islam, 55, a resident of Dalalhat village in Haragach union, was reportedly beaten to death by police at Haragach Natun Bazar around 6pm on November 1.

Tajul was detained with some drugs during a police drive at Haragach Natun Bazar and he fell unconscious after police beat him mercilessly. At one stage, police pushed him against a wall and he died on the spot, according to the case statement.

Enraged by the incident, locals cordoned off Haragach police station, threw brick chips at police and vandalized some vehicles.

Police later fired rubber bullets and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the protesters.