‘Police atrocity’ leaves college student with damaged kidneys

Both the kidneys of a college student have been damaged because of police torture in Jashore, alleged the victim’s family.

Imran Hossain, 23, a student of Kazi Nazrul Islam Degree College, remains admitted to Queens Hospital, Jashore.

Physicians said the condition of Imran is critical. Ubaidul Qadir, a nephrologist at Jashore 250-bed General Hospital, said both the kidneys of Imran Hossain are in extremely bad shape. “We’ve started dialysis from Sunday. We don’t know for sure whether his kidneys will get better or not.”

Son of a certain Rakib Uddin alias Nesar Ali from Sahbazpur in Jashore sadar upazila, Imran Hossain said he was returning home from Salua Bazar in Chougachha with another boy from his locality by a battery-run auto-rickshaw on Wednesday evening. Around 6:00pm, policemen from Sajiali police outpost intercepted their vehicle in front of Jashore Science and Technology University and started checking the bag of the other boy. Fearing police, he tried to fled the scene. The police members chased him down and beat him indiscriminately around 2 kms away. As a result, he lost consciousness. Upon regaining senses, Imran saw himself at a pharmacy at Ambot Tola Bazar. At that time, police inserted a packet of hashish in his pocket and detained him saying they found the drug in his pocket.

Imran’s father Nesar Ali said police phoned him from Imran’s phone around 6:30pm on Wednesday. They said Imran is sick and taking treatment at the chamber of a quack at Ambot Tola Bazar. When Nesar Ali reached there, police took him by their van to police outpost and demanded Tk 30,000 to release Imran. Later, police released Imran when he paid Tk 6,000. The policemen also threatened to beat Imran more if they inform this to anybody.

Nesar Ali also said Imran fell sick at night. He was taken to Jashore 250-bed general hospital on Thursday morning but was later shifted to Queens Hospital, a private hospital on Sunday.

Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) at Sajiali police outpost Munshi Anisur Rahman said ASI Sumaresh Saha and Sajdar Rahman and four constables were in charge of the outpost during the time of the incident. They were asked about the incident. They said the student had fallen sick after vomiting. They also declined the allegation of taking money or torture.

Imran’s father Nesar Ali has filed a written complaint to superintendent of police in Jashore on Sunday demanding their punishment.

Jashore additional police super (special branch) Mohammad Touhidul Islam said a three-member committee, headed by additional police super of ‘A’ circle Md Golam Rabbani, has been formed to investigate the matter. They were also asked to submit the report within five working days.

Jashore police super Muhammad Ashraf Hossain said they were investigating the matter. If the policemen in question were found guilty, they will not be spared, he added.