Different statements by law enforcers on same case unexpected, HC says
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The High Court on Tuesday observed that for proper investigation of a case different statements by different law enforcement agencies are unexpected.
If the law enforcement agencies make different statements on the same incident during an investigation, it would confuse people, even after the truth unravels later, it also observed.
The High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the observation while hearing a writ petition seeking HC directions for a judicial inquiry into the alleged gang-rape of a tourist in Cox's Bazar on December 22 last year.
The HC bench said law enforcement agencies can cooperate with each other while investigating the same case.
The bench asked Deputy Attorney General Bepul Bagmar to inform the law enforcement agencies to this effect. And the court kept the writ petition stand over (waiting for further hearing) until the investigation into the incident is completed.
Abdullah Al Harun Bhuiyan Russell, a Supreme Court lawyer, submitted the petition as public interest litigation to the HC on Sunday, requesting it to pass the necessary order for taking proper action against those responsible for the incident.
During the hearing, the lawyer said, “The statements of the tourist police and the RAB are inconsistent in the gang-rape in Cox's Bazar. They have made different statements through different news outlets. This has created a kind of inconsistency. Moreover, the investigation will not be accepted due to such contradictory statements. People will lose their confidence in them.”
“It seems that the law enforcers have made a bet for establishing the character of the victim woman as what they like. As a result, the investigation report will lose credibility. That is why I am seeking directions for a judicial inquiry into the incident of December 22.”
On the night of December 22, a woman, who claimed to be a tourist in Cox’s Bazar, alleged that a man named Ashik picked her up from the city and gang-raped her with his companions.
That night RAB conducted a raid and rescued the victim from Hotel Zia Guest Inn in Cox's Bazar. RAB arrested hotel manager Chhotan on the basis of the complaint.
The next day, the victim’s husband filed a case against seven people. The case is being investigated by the tourist police. So far six people, including prime accused Ashik, have been arrested in connection to this case.