Death in Ctg Custody

Probe by any agency other than police

HC asks home secy

12 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The High Court yesterday directed the home secretary to get the recent incident of death in Chittagong police custody investigated by any agency other than the police. The court also directed the home secretary to allow reasonable time to the investigation agency and submit the investigation report to this court. Md Manik Mia, a security guard of Anjuman Market at Reazuddin Bazar in the city, also an accused in a theft case, died in police custody in Chittagong Tuesday. However, the HC directed the police commissioner of Chittagong to submit a report to it on whether the police have taken any step against the incident of death in accordance with the criminal procedure code or any other law. It also ordered Sub-Inspector Yunus Miah of Kotwali Police Station, also the investigation officer of the theft case, to appear before it on May 23 to explain the incident. The HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Md Delwar Hossain passed the orders following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a human rights organisation. The bench also issued a rule upon the government and police to explain within three weeks why they should not be directed to ensure the security of life of the detained persons and to take action against the persons responsible for the incident of death in custody. Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioner.