97 killed in 'crossfire' in 9 months: ASK

As many as 97 people were killed in “crossfire” between "armed groups" and law enforcement agencies in the last nine months of this year, according to rights body Ain o Salish Kendra.

Of them, 64 were killed in “crossfire” between the "armed groups" and police, 20 with Rapid Action Battalion, 12 with detectives and one with Rab and police -- between January and September, says a report published by ASK today.

Meanwhile in the same period, 107 people were killed in “crossfire” by law enforcement agencies last year.

The ASK report also mentioned that 38 prisoners and inmates died between January and September.

The rights group said plainclothes men identifying themselves as law enforcers picked up 50 people in the last nine months. Seven of them returned, two bullet-hit bodies were recovered and three others were shown arrested later.

However, none of the law enforcement agencies admitted picking up any of them, ASK said.

The rights body has prepared the report based on its own findings and reports published in eight leading national dailies.

It said 15 people were killed in shooting by members of the law enforcement agencies.

Besides, nine people died due to torture, heart attack, physical sickness or mysterious causes when they were in custody.

Violence against children was alarming in the country this year, warned the report.

As many as 1,217 children were either killed or tortured. Of them, 252 children were killed, 77 committed suicide, bodies of 26 children were recovered after they had gone missing and bodies of 67 children were found later.

Moreover, 24 children died due to mysterious reasons.

A total of 588 women were raped. Thirty three of them were killed after rape and 11 committed suicide. Besides, 77 women escaped rape attempts.

Moreover, 114 women fell victim to sexual harassment during the corresponding time and four of them committed suicide. Two woman and eight men were killed as they protested against sexual harassment.

Besides, 246 women fell victim to domestic violence and 242 of them were killed and 39 others committed suicide. Alongside, 65 women became victims of physical torture.

The ASK report said 221 women fell victim to dowry-related issues. Of them, 107 were killed, seven committed suicide, 87 suffered physical torture and 20 others were abandoned by their husbands.

The report further said 35 domestic helps faced different forms of torture. Four of them were killed after physical torture, one was killed after being raped and 13 others died due to mysterious reasons.

As many as 27 women were thrown acid and eight women fell victim to arbitration and Fatwa.

In the past nine months, 26 houses of the Hindus were vandalised and torched. In this time, 166 incidents of idol vandalism, arson attacks and vandalism at temples and altars also took place.

In these incidents, one person was killed and 57 others were injured.

Eighty-three journalists were tortured, harassed and received threats and obstacles for performing their professional duties.

Samakal reporter Abdul Hakim Shimul was killed by bullet fired by Shahzadpur municipality mayor Halimul Haque Miru in Sirajganj.

As many as 256 incidents of political violence also took place, resulting in 44 deaths and 3,506 injuries.

Along the border, 10 Bangladeshis were killed by Indian Border Security Force, six were killed due to physical torture, 26 received injuries and 37 others were kidnapped.

Thirteen Bangladeshis were returned after being kidnapped following initiatives taken by Border Guard Bangladesh.

The administration imposed section 144 on 35 occasions across the country. Forty people were killed in mob beating, added the ASK report.