Staff Correspondent

The High Court yesterday ordered the authorities concerned to conduct a judicial inquiry into the allegations of police torture on college student Imran Hossain and taking “unethical benefits” from his father for releasing him from their custody.Imran Hossain, a second-year student of Kazi Nazrul Islam Degree College under Jashore Sadar upazila, was reportedly tortured by police on June 3 without any specific allegations. The torture left Imran with damaged kidneys, his family claims.

Yesterday, the HC said the probe into the allegations of torture will be carried out by a judicial officer not below the rank of a district and sessions judge.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan also asked the authorities concerned to submit the inquiry report to this court in 60 days. It came up with the directive during holding a virtual hearing on a writ petition filed seeking necessary order.

During the hearing, writ petitioner Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallob told the HC bench that the probe reports submitted by the civil surgeon and superintendent of police of Jashore were not fully correct as they, in the reports, said that Imran was “under the influence of drugs”. He also said Imran Hossain was brutally tortured by the police although he is innocent.

Yesterday, Jashore Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Abu Shahin submitted documents of the treatment of Imran, saying that he is not doing well, Humayun Kabir Pallob told The Daily Star. Nothing was found in the dope test report of Imran, he added.

On June 28, Jashore SP Ashraf Hossain reported to the High Court that three police personnel had taken “unethical benefits” from Imran’s father for releasing him.