Police 'secretly handcuff' injured Santals after High Court orders to remove those

Police have allegedly roped and handcuffed, secretly, the Santal tribesmen, who are undergoing treatment for bullet injuries sustained in police firing during a clash in Gaibandha's Gobindaganj.

Rangpur CorrespondentShahzada Mia Azadbdnews24.com
Published : 14 Nov 2016, 06:20 PM
Updated : 14 Nov 2016, 06:20 PM

Their relatives at Rangpur Medical College Hospital say police remove the handcuffs when any journalist come and put those back on after they leave.

The High Court on Monday ordered removal of the ropes and handcuffs on the injured Santals following a writ petition.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, Rangpur deputy inspector general, and Gaibandha superintendent of police were asked to implement the order and file a report on it within Nov 16.

At least three Santal tribesmen died when police opened fire on them during a clash with the workers of Rangpur Sugar Mill on Nov 6.

Of those injured in the clash, two are undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical Hospital. The duo, Charan Soren and Bimol Kisko, are also accused in a case police initiated against hundreds of Santals.

The writ petition relating to them was filed after media published reports that they were handcuffed and roped while being treated under police custody.

Their relatives spoke about police double-dealing over the matter on Monday evening.

Kisko's wife 'Jijilia' and Soren's wife Pani Murmu said police remove the handcuffs and ropes on their husbands when any reporter comes, but put those on again when the journalist leaves.

Charan Soren is seen handcuffed and roped in this photo clicked on Monday evening.

The hospital's Assistant Director Shafiqul Islam told bdnews24.com: "We saw handcuffs and ropes on them whenever we went to see them."

A police constable assigned to guard them said the policemen there are alerted on mobile phone following 'an order from the high-up' when any journalist comes.

"We then take the handcuffs and ropes off at once and put those on again when the journalists leave," he said, requesting anonymity.

Sub-Inspector Dibakar Roy of the police camp adjacent to the hospital said there were handcuffs and ropes on the injured Santals beforehand.

"Those were removed when the Awami League delegation came to visit them," he said.

"One of the constables on duty might have put the handcuffs and ropes back on them in the afternoon for security reasons.

"We are checking the matter," he added.

Rangpur Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman declined comment on the matter. "The accused persons are not of my area. They are from Gaibandha," he said.