Accused cop flees Dhaka court

A sub-inspector today fled from a Dhaka court dealing a case against him over the death of a man in police custody in 2012.

Rezaul Karim Patowary, an SI of Pallabi Police Station, sneaked away from the court after Judge Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman of Special Judge's Court-5 rejected his bail petition in the case, said Abul Hasan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station.

Earlier, Patowary and two other accused -- IS Mohammad Nuruzzaman of Rupnagar Police Station and their informer Babu alias Raton -- surrendered before the court and sought bail in the case.

Rejecting their bail petitions, the court ordered to send them to jail. The court also framed charges against them and fixed January 19, 2016 for starting the trial.

As the law enforcers were preparing to take them to jail, Patowary went into hiding, the OC said adding that a case has been filed in this connection.

According to the case statement, the accused picked up businessman Faruk Hossain Kamal on February 19, 2012 from his home in the capital's Kafrul area and demanded Tk 50,000 for his release.

As the Kamal's family refused to pay the money, the trio tortured him inhumanely while he was in police custody.

Later, the victim was shown arrested in an extortion case and produced before a Dhaka court with a five-day remand plea on February 21 the same year.

But the court rejected the prayer and sent him to jail because his health condition was not so good.

As Kamal's health condition deteriorated, he was admitted to a jail hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he died a week later.

Around two months later, his sister Parvin filed a murder case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka.

The court later ordered Kafrul Police Station to register the case.

On March 1 this year, Criminal Investigation Department Inspector Mazharul Islam, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted a charge sheet to the court, naming the two police officials and the informer as accused.