Several marks of injury, sister-in-law arrested

Dilruba Huq Papiya

The autopsy was done at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) morgue on the same day.

Sources at SBMCH forensic department said the autopsy report will be submitted to authorities concerned within next few days.

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Those who were present when the body was exhumed said the body bore marks of injury on the face, eyes and neck.

Police arrested Papiya's sister-in-law Swapna Tuesday night after her elder sister Mahbuba Huq Kumkum filed a case.

In the case, the complainant said Papiya married her cousin Mahbub Morshed Tuhin on November 4,1994. They had a nine year-old daughter, Saptarshi.

Kumkum alleged that Papiya started living with her mother in Dhaka as she was often tortured by her husband.

On November 1, Tuhin went to the house of Papiya's mother in Dhaka and brought Papiya and Saptarshi to Barisal to celebrate Eid. She alleged that she was tortured and strangled on November 3 evening.

Brothers and sisters of Papiya came to Barisal from Dhaka to see the body but they were not allowed to enter the house.

The body was buried next morning without autopsy, she alleged.

Those who came from Dhaka were also barred from going to police and forced to leave Barisal by Tuhin's men, she further said.

Police was informed but they were silent as Tuhin had links with ruling party leaders, Kumkum alleged.

Police arrested Swapna from Tuhin's College Road residence following pressure from local human rights organisations and publication of reports in newspapers, she claimed.

Local press reports claimed that Tuhin was also present in the house when Swapna was arrested but police let him flee.

However, Md. Habib, sub-inspector of Barisal Kotwali police station and investigation officer of the case, refuted the allegation.