Custodial Death

Three cops suspended

Staff Correspondent
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authorities yesterday suspended a sub-inspector (SI) and two assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) of Darussalam Police Station in connection with the custodial death of a man on Thursday night. Admitting the suspension order, Officer-in-charge Abdul Malek of the police station said SI Hekmat Ali and ASIs Mashiur Rahman and Abu Sayem have been suspended on charges of tarnishing the image of police. Another police official said apart from the involvement in the custodial death of Mujibur Rahman, the three policemen have also engaged in various irregularities in the area. A senior police official of Mirpur division said the three policemen have been suspended as part of the preliminary punitive measures. Departmental actions will also be taken against them if they are found guilty in the enquiry report, he added. Earlier on Sunday, the DMP authorities closed Gulshan Police Station SI Anisur Rahman in connection with the custodial death of businessman Mizanur Rahman early Thursday. Meanwhile, both the enquiry committees formed for probing the custodial deaths of Mujibar and Mizanur Rahman are investigating the incidents. DMP Joint Commissioner (Crime and Operation) Humayun Kabir, who is probing the Darussalam incident, said they are carrying out enquiry as part of their executive investigation. Kabir said they launched the enquiry before the High Court verdict asking to probe by other personnel out of the police department. Gulshan division deputy commissioner AKM Hafiz Akhter, who is leading the probe of Gulshan incident, said, "Our report will be submitted to the DMP headquarters." Meanwhile, Home Minister Sahara Khatun yesterday said the home ministry will form probe bodies to investigate the custodial deaths after getting the copy of the HC directives. Earlier on Tuesday, the HC directed the home secretary to form within a week a committee comprised officials other than police personnel to investigate the three deaths. It also ordered the DMP commissioner to turn in a report within two weeks on measures to prevent lock-up deaths and submit inquest reports on the deaths of Mizanur Rahman, Mujibur Rahman and Babul Kazi under the custodies of Darussalam, Gulshan and Ramna police.