The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) has expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over the alleged brutal torture of a police mess supervisor by members of the Detective Branch (DB) in Pirojpur on suspicion of theft.
The victim, Md Yunus Fakir (40), supervisor of the Pirojpur District Police Mess, was reportedly picked up and subjected to severe physical abuse, including electric shocks and burning with hot wax, after being accused of stealing Tk1,80,000 belonging to DB Officer-in-Charge Ariful Islam.
According to media reports and the victim’s account, on 13 April around 1:30pm, Yunus was handcuffed and taken downstairs at the district DB office. There, he was beaten repeatedly and given electric shocks. The soles of his feet were also beaten repeatedly.
When Yunus screamed in pain, a stick was pressed to his mouth and he was dragged to the kitchen, where hot wax from a melted candle was dripped onto his genitals, leaving him burned, the allegations state.
Later, after an extensive investigation of the incident, Shakil Khan, a sweeper at the same mess, admitted to the theft during interrogation, and the money was recovered from him, according to the victim’s account.
HRSS has demanded proper medical treatment and security for Yunus Fakir and his family, as well as appropriate compensation.
The rights body strongly demanded that the DB members involved in the incident be brought under the law and held accountable.
In a statement, HRSS said that in a democratic state, every citizen has the fundamental constitutional right to security of life. Due to the long-standing culture of impunity and lack of accountability regarding crimes committed by law enforcement members, such brutality continues to recur.
The organisation called upon the government and concerned authorities to implement the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act-2013 and other relevant laws, and to take swift, visible, and effective steps regarding the incident.
