Primary investigation of a judicial Inquiry commission found evidence of beating up Shahin Sultana Shanta by the police on March 12.

"Such activities of police are a punishable crime under Bangladesh Penal Code," Metropolitan Magistrate Shafiq Anwar, who headed the one-member commission, said in his report that was submitted before the Fourth Special Tribunal for Prevention ofWomen and Children Repression, Dhaka on Sunday.

' It was appropriate for the police to arrest her and send to the court, which was not done, said the report

Police mercilessly beat up

Shanta on Road No 27 in Dhanmondi during a protest programme by the 14-party opposition alliance on March 12.

On March 14, Shanta filed a case with the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Dhaka against two deputy commissioners of police, a constable and 14 other unnamed policemen and policewomen. The inspector general of police is investigating the case.

Shanta filed a case under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act with the First Special Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression, Dhaka on March 19 where she also accused the same policemen of attempting to violate her. The court ordered a judicial probe into her allegation the same day.

The witnesses did not give any statement about sexual harassment of Shanta, the report said.

Police charged batons to control an unlawful assembly that day and taking her for a picket, put excessive force on her that should not have been done, it said.

A prior permission of the government is needed to take the allegations against the accused into cognisance, said the magistrate.

The Fourth Special Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression, Dhaka will hear to decide whether the charges can be taken into cognisance.