ADC Harun suspended
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Harun deleted it,” he said.
After indiscriminate beatings, when Naeem fell on the ground, the policemen struck his face with a weapon’s butt. At one point, he passed out.
BCL leaders who spoke to The Daily Star said Harun and a female police official, ADC Sanjida Afrin, were at Birdem hospital on Saturday evening. Around 8:30pm, the female official’s husband, a BCS cadre officer, went there along with the two BCL leaders and an altercation ensued between the ADC and the BCS cadre.
The ADC called members of police and took the two BCL leaders to Shahbagh Police Station around 9:00pm where police tortured them for about an hour, BCL leaders alleged.
Contacted last night, ADC Sanjida said she went to Birdem for treatment. As Harun was her colleague and in charge of that zone, he helped her getting the doctor’s appointment there. Her husband and some BCL leaders went there out of the blue, and picked a fight.
She said she is yet to give her version of the event to the DMP probe committee.
Talking to this correspondent at the hospital yesterday, a relative of Naeem said they were not thinking about filing a case at this moment, as Naeem’s treatment is their first priority. They would decide about it after talking with the BCL leaders.
BCL KEEPS FAITH IN POLICE PROBE
BCL President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan yesterday spoke with DMP Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq at the DMP headquarters about the police brutality.
Briefing media after the meeting, Saddam said they have faith in the departmental investigation of the DMP, and decided not to file any criminal case over the incident.
“The DMP commissioner assured us that the departmental enquiry will ensure maximum legal punishment,” he said.
He also denied that the BCL discouraged the victim’s family to file any cases.
Asked about involvements of other police officers in the torture, DMP Joint Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker said, “The investigation will find out who played what role. The DMP commissioner assured of maximum actions against them based on the probe report.”
Harun has long made headlines for his high-handedness.
Over the last couple of years, he has developed a habit of beating and assaulting teachers, journalists, lawyers, protesting students, opposition politicians, and even his colleagues.
Last year, a video of him slapping a police officer went viral on social media.
In March this year, Harun reportedly led a police attack on journalists and lawyers during the Supreme Court Bar Association election. One of the victims, a senior reporter at ATN News, said he complained to senior police officials about Harun’s assault, but no action was taken.
BCL FACTIONS ANGRY
At least 10 residential hall units of BCL in Dhaka University condemned the police assault. But the BCL did not issue any statement over the incident yet, much to the anger of a section BCL leaders and activists.
However, BNP’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Chhatra Union issued separate statements condemning the attack.
Over the last two days, Saddam Hossain and Sheikh Wali Asif met the home minister and the DMP commissioner, demanding punishment of the police officials.
But some BCL leaders and activists say the central leaders are not sincere enough to ensure justice. A section of BCL leaders even took to social media to mock the BCL president and secretary.
Talking to reporters yesterday, Saddam said they were showing responsibility. However, a section is trying to fish in troubled waters over the incident.
In another development, Golam Mostafa, inspector (operations) of Shahbagh Police Station, was last night transferred to DMP’s Central Reserve Office over torturing BCL leaders.
Earlier, while talking to reporters, injured BCL leader Anwar identified Mostafa as one of the torturers.