The Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has found preliminary evidence of human rights violations in an incident of alleged police torture in custody in Netrokona.

According to a report published today, ASK said it conducted an investigation on November 5 and 6 and found evidence that an accused, Apel Mahmud, 35, was tied up and tortured while in police remand.

It also claimed that the victim's wife, Afsana Mimi, was summoned at night to the police station at Borogara under Sadar upazila, where she was subjected to intimidation and harassment.

On the evening of October 14, police arrested Apel, and the following day sought a seven-day remand; the court granted one-day remand.

ASK urged authorities to take disciplinary action against those responsible, file a case under the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, ensure medical treatment for the victim, and guarantee the safety of his family.

The report said that taking a detainee to police quarters while in custody and summoning his wife at night are both violations of legal procedure.

According to the report, Afsana told ASK investigators that Md Fazlul Karim, sub-inspector (SI) and the investigating officer of Netrokona Sadar Police Station, called her from her husband's phone on October 20 and asked her to bring food to the station. When she refused, her husband called again and said, "Why aren't you coming? The police are asking you to come."

Moments later, she heard her husband screaming over the phone, shouting, "My wife can't come here with a child. Kill me instead!"

Terrified, Afsana went to the police station around 9:00pm with her mother and two-year-old child. She said the investigating officer told her to go to the police quarters and warned, "Don't panic or cry when you see your husband."

Afsana said that when she entered the police quarters, she saw her husband blindfolded, hands and legs tied, hanging from an iron rod. When she asked why, the police replied, "He's on remand; should we let him sleep instead of questioning?"

She alleged that the police officer demanded money, saying, "You've done politics and made money for years; now face the consequences."

Apel is a former vice-president of the Netrakona district unit of Chhatra League (BCL), which has been banned. He was beaten continuously for around two hours, his wife told ASK.

During a jail visit, ASK representatives spoke with Apel, who said that while he was on remand, SI Fazlul Karim, constable Ashraf, and another officer wearing glasses hung him in the police quarters and beat him.

When contacted, Netrokona Sadar Police Station's Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kazi Shah Newaz declined to comment.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) Rezwan Ahmed said, "The allegation is under investigation. SI Fazlul Karim has been withdrawn from the police station and attached to the district police lines."