'Killer' cop escapes from court

A suspended police officer escaped from police custody at a Dhaka court yesterday moments after he was denied bail in a case filed for the custodial death of a businessman in 2012.

Rezaul Karim Patwari, a former sub-inspector (SI) of Kafrul Police Station, snuck passed court policemen at the Metropolitan Session Judge's Court in Old Dhaka in the afternoon due to police negligence, said court sources.

Later, sub-inspector Mufakkharul Islam of the court police filed a case with Kotwali Police Station against Rezaul, said Abul Hasan, officer-in-charge of the station.

The OC said they were trying to arrest the suspended SI.

A police investigation into the police negligence was underway, said sources at the prosecution division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Rezaul fled after he, another suspended SI Mohammad Nuruzzaman and their informer Babu alias Ratan, all accused in the same case, were being taken to jail.

They had surrendered before a court and sought bail. But, it rejected the pleas and sent them to jail.

The judge of Special Judge Court-5 of Dhaka also framed charges against them and fixed January 19, 2016 for starting the trial.

According to the case statement, the accused picked up businessman Faruk Hossain Kamal on February 19, 2012, from his home in the capital's Kafrul area and demanded Tk 50,000 as ransom.

As Kamal's family refused to pay the money, the trio tortured him inhumanely while he was in police custody.  

Later, the victim was shown arrested in an extortion case and produced before a Dhaka court with a five-day remand plea on February 21 the same year.

But the court rejected the prayer and sent him to jail because his health condition was not so good.

As Kamal's health condition deteriorated, he was admitted to a jail hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he died a week later.

Around two months later, his sister Parvin filed a complaint with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka.

The court later ordered Kafrul Police Station to register the complaint with it as a regular case.

On March 1 this year, Criminal Investigation Department Inspector Mazharul Islam, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted a charge sheet to the court, naming the two police officials and the informer as accused.