The National Human Rights Commission will pursue a "zero tolerance" policy on extra-judicial killings and custodial deaths in violation of human rights, NHRC Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman said yesterday.

"We want to convey our stance on the issue to everyone," he told journalists after a meeting with the director general (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion.

Earlier, the commission had asked DG of the elite force Hassan Mahmood Khandker to appear before it to discuss alleged extrajudicial killings and custodial deaths.

On Monday, the commissioner of Dhaka Metropoliton Police turned up before the NHRC on being asked to do in the wake of death of three persons allegedly in police custody since Julyl.

The commission had for the first time asked the Rab chief to appear before it following allegations from people regarding disappearance of their near and dear ones after being picked up by Rab.

“There are allegations that people have gone missing and their whereabouts are not known. Allegations of such disappearance have been made recently," Mizanur Rahman said referring to his discussions with the Rab chief.

The commission now has five complaints of disappearance filed with it with four of those made by the victims' family members.

The commission chairman mentioned that he asked the Rab chief to take initiatives to ensure that none dies in the custody of Rab, and to find out the missing persons and take action against those responsible for the incidents.

"The allegations deserve to be probed. Legal actions will be taken after investigation,” said the Rab chief after his meeting with the NHRC chair-

man.

He also said he is doing his best to ensure transparency in the activities of his force, and punishment was already given to over 900 of its members on different allegations. And about 400 of them got severe punishment like dismissal from job, he added.

One of the complaints of disappearance filed with the NHRC is concerning Tusher Islam Titu. He was picked up allegedly by Rab-3 personnel in Sirajganj on July 22 in 2008, and has been missing since then.

Following media reports on it, the commission had a meeting with family members ofTitu recently.

Moreover, a person named Monayem was allegedly picked up by Rab in Barisal on December 1 in 2007, and his whereabouts are not known till now. His father lodged a complaint with the NHRC.

Another victim, Babu, was allegedly picked up by Rab on May 13 in 2009 from Mirpur in the capital, and has been missing since then. Babu's brother filed a complaint with the commission on January 3 this year.