Miscarriage after police ‘assault’

Police in Gazipur allegedly assaulted a pregnant woman, causing a miscarriage last week.

The 25-year-old woman, who is currently admitted to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, said policemen have been keeping an eye on her, making sure she doesn't talk to journalists about her ordeal.

Police have formed a three-member committee on Thursday to look into the allegation of assault, said Deputy Commissioner (North) Zakir Hossain of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, adding that policemen were watching over her because she requested for it.

The woman, who owns a parlour, told this correspondent that around six months ago, several unknown men sent her husband some fake "indecent" photos of her. The pictures were photoshopped, she added.

She then filed a case under the Digital Security Act with Kashimpur Police Station, she said.

On March 1, the woman, who was three months pregnant, went to the police station to let the officers know the names of two witnesses of the case, she said. When she reached there, the officers asked her to talk to Constable Ruma.

The woman met the constable and told her the names. The woman requested Ruma to write down the addresses.

"As I repeatedly requested her to write down the address, she started hurling abusive words at me. When I protested, she shoved me against the wall. It hurt my nose and stomach," she said.

"I started bleeding from my nose soon afterwards and my stomach hurt. I was admitted to the hospital that night. They had to remove the baby the next day."

She added that policemen deployed at the hospital were not letting her talk to anyone except her family members.

Contacted, Rafiqul Islam, a resident medical officer (RMO), said he didn't know why the woman had a miscarriage.

 Police constable Ruma could not be contacted for comments.