The High Court has sought a report of the latest physical condition of Imran Hossain, a college student whose kidney was damaged due to police torture in Jashore.
Following the hearing of a writ petition filed in a case in this connection, the judge of the virtual High Court bench, Justice JBM Hasan, yesterday passed the order and fixed June 28 as the date for next hearing of the case.
The HC bench also directed the Jashore civil surgeon to submit a report on the physical condition of college student Imran Hossain, and the superintendent of police in Jashore to submit an investigation report on the incident on June 28.
Meanwhile, Nesar Ali, father of injured Imran, said that his son was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as per advice of a doctor as he was not fully recovered from the treatment in Jashore, and is now undergoing treatment at the nephrology department of the hospital, adding that he is treating his son with all their savings and the small amount of money he managed from the villagers.
On June 3, Imran, a resident of Shahbazpur in Jashore Sadar upazila and a second-year student of local Kazi Nazrul Islam Degree College, was returning home on a motorcycle with a friend from Salua Bazar in the evening. Policemen of Sajiali camp in front of Jashore University of Science and Technology stopped them and started searching their bags.
Intimidated, as Imran ran in fear, police chased him and beat him up, leaving him unconsciousness on the street.
He later regained consciousness after receiving treatment at a local pharmacy.
At that time, the police said that he was arrested with cannabis in his pocket. Later, police released Imran in exchange of a bribe of Tk 6,000 and threatened to place him on remand if he told anyone about the incident, Imran's father alleged.
Upon returning home, Imran's condition deteriorated and he was admitted to Queen's Hospital in Jashore on June 8.
Obaidul Qadir Ujjwal, a kidney specialist at Jashore Medical College Hospital, said Imran's kidneys had stopped working, and he needs regular dialysis.
Mithu Saha, manager of Queens Hospital, said following all medical treatment, including dialysis, Imran's kidney condition is now normal, but he continues to have urinary incontinence. As a result, he has been referred to DMCH for better treatment, he added.
When the incident was published in various media, Supreme Court lawyers Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab and Barrister Mohammad Kawsar filed a writ petition at the HC on June 18 seeking judicial inquiry, compensation and all medical expenses of the defendant.
The home secretary, superintendent of police of Jashore, chief judicial magistrate, IGP, civil surgeon and OC of Jashore Kotwali Model Police Station were made defendants.
The accused policemen of Sajiali camp have been denying the allegation of torturing Imran, and instead claimed they had rescued Imran from the road unconscious and took him to a local doctor. Although 10gm of cannabis was found in his pocket, he was warned and released at the request of a local people's representative, they also claimed.
Superintendent of Police in Jashore Muhammad Ashraf Hossain formed a three-member committee headed by Additional Superintendent of Police (A-Circle) Golam Rabbani to investigate the incident and it submitted a probe report on June 15 which also mentioned that Imran was not tortured by the policemen.
However, four policemen from Sajiali camp, including two accused ASIs, were withdrawn after the incident.
Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab took part in the hearing of the writ petition on Tuesday while Barrister Mohammad Kawsar assisted him. Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas represented the state.
