HC pulls up govt over police brutality on protest march

The police chief has been asked to inform the High Court about steps taken against those police personnel who used brutal force to disperse a group of protestors Sunday, reports bdnews24.com.

The protestors were demanding arrest of those who sexually assaulted several women at the Dhaka University during the Bangla New Year celebrations.

The bench of Justices Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman gave the order Tuesday after hearing petition filed by lawyer Yunus Ali Akhand.

It instructed Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque to file a report on Jun 14.

The court also issued a rule asking why the incident of harassment on protestors by police would not be declared illegal and why steps against those responsible would not be taken, Deputy Attorney General Tapash Biswas said.

The home secretary, IGP, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) chief, OCs of Shahbagh and Ramna police stations have been asked to give explanations in four weeks.

On Sunday, about a hundred protesters were moving towards the DMP headquarters from the Dhaka University when they were stopped and baton-charged in front of the officers' club.

Tear gas and water cannon were also used to disperse the gathering.