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Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM)
P.O. Box 5493
Santa Clara, CA 95056-5493
Tel: (212) 592-3627, Fax: (212) 202-7683
Email: info@hrcbm.org
Web Page: http://www.hrcbm.org |
Investigative Report of Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) on the incident of murder of a Hindu couple at North Gourambha union, P.S. Rampal, District Bagerhat. Investigation conducted on 16th of October,04
I,along with Ms.Biva Rani Biswas, Suvasish Sarker of HRCBM-Dhaka proceeded towards the spot on 15 October,04 220 kilometers away from Dhaka at Gourambha -PS Rampal, District Bagerhat to investigate the incident of brutal murder of a Hindu couple Shishubar Biswas[Maloo](70) Ms. Sita Rani Biswas(60) deceased parents of an Engineer Shusanta Kumar Biswas and reached there on 16th of October,04. We got information from various dailies of Bangladesh with picture of dead published on 12 and 13 October, 04
Background Information:
Shisubar Biswas{M} and Sita Rani Biswas{F} were both husband and wife living peacefully at their village home : Gourambha Union within Rampal PS, District: Bagerhat before their brutal murder. They have two sons namely 1} Shusanta Kumar Biswas {38} - an engineer 2} Sujit Biswas-{28}a service holder and one daughter Ms.Shikha Biswas {25}. All the brothers and sister live at Dhaka for their business purpose. Sometimes they come to see their parents at their village home. Their economic condition is good. There is "Radha Gobinda Mandir" established by this family and regular seba puja is being done here with the leadership of Shusanta Kumar Biswas.
As per version of First Information Report lodged by Engineer Shusanta Biswas on 13th of October,04 in Rampal PS it appears that their parents were brutally killed by some unknown persons and dead bodies identified by one Barun Biswas - a neighbor while he went to call Shisubar and Sita Rani at their home at about 9-30 p.m. At that time the electricity line of the house was disconnected. Barun Biswas found both the dead bodies in a very mutilated condition in different places of the spot, Sita Rani Biswas was found dead in a tin shed room without any wearing clothes. Shisubar Biswas was found dead 20 yards away from the semi-pucca house and started hue and cry for necessary help. Due to hue and cry the neighbor 1. Tilak Chandra Das son of Netai Ch.Das 2. Kalidas Biswas son of late Baikunta Biswas 3. Latifa Begum wife of Feroz 4. Arati Biswas wife of Kumud Biswas came forward and saw both the dead bodies were lying in different places of the house. On hearing the news of murder the local chairman and the police officers came to spot and asked the neighboring people, but nobody gave satisfactory reply. Police arrested union parishad Member - Nasir Joardar {40} a local BNP activist, Mohasin Joardar {50} Mizanur Rahaman {45} and Ranjan Biswas {28} on suspicion. But on interrogation statements they disclosed that 1} Enamul {21} 2} Zabbar {22} 3} Rashu {15} are involved. As per their statements Enamul, Zabbar,and Rashu have been arrested and confessional statements of the accused have been made by them under section 164 of Cr.P.C. As a result Nasir Joardar, Mohasin Joardar Mizanur Rahaman and Ranjan Biswas were released from police custody. Police sent the both dead bodies to Bagerhat Sadar Hospital for examination for autopsy.
We, on behalf of HRCBM-Dhaka reached the spot and found the following witnesses:
1. Pulin Behari Biswas {80}
2. Maya Rani Biswas {60}
3. Tapan Biswas {40}
4. Shymali Biswas a Teacher of School
5. Nasiruddin member {neighbour}
6. Rabeya Begum {50}
7. Mahatab Sheikh {60}
8. Selina Begum {35}
9. Srimti Begum {35}
10. Dinabandhu Sarkar.
11. Charu Bala
12. Shikha Biswas
13. Barul Biswas
14. Tilak Chandra Das
15. Nihar Banu {30}
16. Daud Sheikh
17. Moharani Das
All the above witnesses saw the dead bodies of the victim-couple and some of the witnesses told us that they saw injuries with blood at their faces.
Police most illegally released 4 accused without any investigation. Police seized no evidence/materials in connection with this murder case:
It is suspected that Rampal police primarily arrested four accused namely : Nasir Joardar,Mahasin Joardar, Mizanur Rahaman and Ranjan Biswas. But it is very difficult to say how those persons were released without any tangible ground, although news of arrest of those suspected hailed by local people.
Statements of police:
We talked with the O.C. Rampal P.S. and the Investigating Officer of this case on the following points:
1. Why the police released four suspected accused without the permission of the court?
2. Why police did not seize the alamats with blood stained mat during investigation after a lapse of time although there is no eyewitnesses during murder?
The I.O. told us that no identifier informed them about this important alamat kept there. Because this alamat is essential for identifying the assailants during trial. Police could not give us satisfactory reply on this issue. Secondly the suspected accuseds are presumably not involved but may be abettor of this case. Assailants murdered the couple put the victim - Sita Rani Biswas in the mat and during investigation we saw blood stained mat kept outside the house. One of the witnesses - Selina Begum and Ms.Shikha Biswas identified the mat and complained that the police did not take any cognizance of this blood stained mat. We also found evidences during investigation, some witnesses present in the spot, narrated us that Ms.Sita Rani was forcefully raped by perpetrators and as Ms.Sita Rani identified the assailants and before death she started to shouting " I have recognized you and you will be sent to police." Then the assailants strangulated her to death. But the complainant did not agree with this view because of social adversity. The Deputy Commissioner-Bagerhat is also reluctant to talk to us.
Cause of Murder :
Most of the witnesses are of the opinion that the local influential people wanted to grab the properties belonging to this minority family. Apart from this Ms.Sita Rani used to take mortgage gold in lieu of money from the needy villagers. It is expected that some greedy people wanted to loot deposited gold ornaments and belongings from the house and thus committed such heinous crime. It is not possible on our part to realize actual modus operandi of the perpetrators during short time visit in this spot.
Findings:
We came to know that there is no previous enmity between this peace-loving Hindu family and the perpetrators and the villagers always respect the couple in general, but there is some scope of zealously against this family because of their solvency in the village. But during trial there is reasonable doubt that the accused may be acquitted due to insufficient evidences and perfunctory investigation of police personnel during trial in the court. M.Mahabub Alam - Superintendent of Police, Bagerhat visited the spot also but the S.P. did not also seize the alamats from the spot. This type of perfunctory investigation may cause hindrance to the dispensation of justice to the victims and as well to the family. This irresponsible attitude towards the victim may bring irreparable loss to the family as well as to the religious minority and the sense of insecurity amongst the minority community will continue to happen. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. The treaty Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolutions duly ratified by the Government of Bangladesh should be complied with in accordance with Articles contained therein. Discrimination in all forms should be stopped. The Minorities of Bangladesh should be protected.
We came back from village Gourambha, Bagerhat to Dhaka on the next day on 17 October, 04 safely.
Prepared and submitted by:
Adv.Rabindra Ghosh
President,HRCBM-Dhaka.
www.hrcbm.org
www.hrtribune.com
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