Two policemen were identified for their involvement directly in setting fire to the houses of Santal community during the eviction drive in Gobindaganj upazila, according to probe reports submitted by police administration.
Rangpur Range Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) of police Khondoker Golam Faruque and Chowdhury Manjurul Kabir yesterday submitted two separate probe reports before the High Court through the attorney general office.
The two identified policemen are: Gaibandha Detective Branch Sub Inspector Mahbubur Rahman and Gaibandha Police Lines’ Constable Md Sazzad Hossain were directly involved in setting fire to the homes of Santals, according to the probe report.
Deputy Attorney General Motahar Hossain Saju presented the probe reports before the HC bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath for its order. The HC bench is likely to pass necessary order on the reports on Sunday.
Both the probe reports mentioned that apart from Sub Inspector Rahman and Constable Rahman, several other law-enforcers and civilians were also found involvement in setting fire, but they could not be identified.
In his report, DIG Faruk said that the police administration has suspended them in the meantime and the departmental action will be taken against them.
On the other hand, Additional DIG Kabir report said that the involvement of two police officials in setting fire on Santal houses have been proved during the Investigation period over the matter.
The police administration reports came after a judicial probe led by Gaibandha’s chief judicial magistrate concluded that policemen were involved in the incident.
Following the judicial report, in an order the HC had on February 7 ordered the government to withdraw the superintendent of police and all other police personnel on duty there that day.
It had then also ordered the Inspector General of Police and Rangpur Range DIG to file reports within four weeks over the video footage of the arson emerged on the internet of policemen setting fire.
The reports submitted to the High Court on Thursday followed that order.
Chief judicial magistrate of Gaibandha on January 30 submitted the probe report before the High Court stating that it was found in a video footage of the incident that was broadcast by a Doha-based state-funded broadcaster Al Jazeera that some police and two civil people were seen actively in setting fire on Santal houses during the eviction. Police in uniform were also seen but they did not try to douse the fire, the report added.
On December 14, the High Court directed the chief judicial magistrate of Gaibandha to investigate who were involved in setting fire on Santal shanties following their eviction drive on November 6.
source:Greenwatch Desk
