On April 12, 2011, Belal Hossain (9), son of Golam Sarwar and Shahinur Begum, residents of Khalpar road, Mistripara, compelled by hunger, allegedly stole 5/6 pieces of metal rod from the Nirala Alkatra (tar) Mill of Khulna city, in order to be able to buy food. The members of the Metropolitan Police arrested him on this allegation. The police then blindfolded and handcuffed him and later subjected him to electric shocks, as alleged by Belal and his mother.
The police returned Belal to his mother at around 1:00pm on April 13, 2011.
Analysis of the facts found
During the fact-finding mission- members of the police, eye-witnesses to the incident and other associated persons were interviewed. Belal informed that the police had tortured him while the police deny such allegations. Belal also claims
that he experiences pain and discomfort in this right hand due to the electric shocks. Belal’s mother informed that Belal is now behaving like a person who is psychologically ill. She could not afford treatment for her child due to their
impoverished condition. Due to such poverty, a significantly large number of children are deprived of their basic necessities like food, clothing and shelter.
Odhikar demands that a fair and neutral investigation be carried out into the matter, that the perpetrators be brought to justice and that Belal be provided proper medical treatment and financial assistance. Torture in any form must be made a criminal act, and the perpetrator of torture on a child must not be spared.
fact-finding-torture-Belal Hossain-2011-eng (full text in English, PDF)
fact-finding-torture-Belal Hossain-2011-ben (full text in Bangla, PDF)
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