Man languishing in jail for 3 yrs for brother’s crime

An innocent man has been languishing in jail reportedly for 3 years, for a crime committed by his elder brother in Sotobongram area of Rajshahi town, reports UNB.

The victim was identified as Sajal Mia, younger brother of one Selim alias Fazal, who was convicted in a case filed under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

Sajal's lawyer filed an appeal with the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal seeking release on 26 May.

As per the case statement, Selim, the prime accused of the case has been on the run since the case was filed in 2001. Police has been searching for the convict since then but failed to trace him.

After nine years, based on secret information that Selim visited his house, police conducted a drive there and picked up Sajal, mistaking him to be Selim.

However, police claim that they have arrested the right person who is convicted to life-term imprisonment in the case.

Meanwhile, Sajal's lawyer submitted photocopies of national identity cards of four siblings of Sajal which were attested by the local ward councilor, their land documents, picture of Selim and other necessary papers in this regard.

Sajal's lawyer Mohan Kumar Saha said, "Police being motivated by my client's rivals arrested a wrong person. We informed the court about the matter while the court set 11 June for hearing over the matter in presence of Sajal."

Officer-in-charge of Sadar police station SM Masud Parvez said the witnesses of the case identified the convict and they have also submitted affidavits in this regard.