Custodial death: prosecution seeks life in jail for SI Zahid, 4 others

Prosecution today concluded arguments for a case over the custodial death of trader Ishtiaque Ahmed Jonny in February 2014.

The prosecution also sought highest punishment – life in jail, according to the law for custodial death -- for all of the five accused, including suspended SI Zahidur Rahman Zahid, for allegedly torturing "jhut" trader Jonny to death at Pallabi Police Station.

The other accused are: assistant sub-Inspectors ofthe police station Qamruzzaman Mintu and Rashedul Islam, andtheirinformants Sumon and Russell.

Of the accused, Zahid and Sumon are in jail while Rashedul and Rusell are on bail. Qamruzzaman is on the run.

While placing arguments, prosecution lawyer Abu Taib told the court the charges against SI Zahid and the other accused were proved beyond doubt. "We sought highest punishment as the charges brought against all the accused have been proved", Taib said in his argument.

After the prosecution's arguments, the defense started placing arguments in support of acquitting their client SI Zahid. However, after the defense lawyer could not complete the argument, Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka fixed the next hearing date for tomorrow.

Earlier, the court recorded statements of 22 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant of the case.

On February 8, 2014, a group of 25-26 policemen, including SI Zahid, raided a house in Pallabi's Irani camp area during a wedding ceremony and arrested Jonny. Informer Sumon and two of his friends, including Russell, had called police after Jonny slapped Sumon for stalking women at the programme.

Following this, police allegedly tortured Jonny at the police station. This lead to him falling so sick that he was admitted to a local clinic. Later, he was transferred to Suhrawardy Hospital where doctors declared him dead on July 13 of the same year.

On August 8, 2014, victim's younger brother Imtiaz Hossain Rocky filed a case with the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka.

On February 17, 2015, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Maruf Hossain conducted a judicial inquiry, found involvement of Zahid and the other four, and submitted a report to the the same court.

On April 17 in 2016, the court framed charges against the accused.