Please - Odhikar

station but no such case or GD was filed there. The deceased's father Jamal Uddin demanded a
neutral and impartial inquiry of the matter and punishment of those responsible.
From the information received, the reason behind Delowar's arrest was not clear. But the mode
of operation, accountability and transparency of activities of RAB have been questioned due to
such deaths. Odhikar demands impartial and proper investigation in this regard.
Jugantor photo journalist physically harassed by RAB
On 15 March 2005, there was a newspaper report with the title 'Photo Journalist tortured by
RAB'. On the basis of that report Odhikar carried out a fact-finding mission into the matter.
Odhikar talked to victim SM Gorky, the Chief Photojournalist of the Daily Jugantor and visited
the site of the incident.
Odhikar came to know that on 14 March 2005, SM Gorky, the Chief Photojournalist of the Daily
Jugantor was attacked by a team of RAB-3 while he was taking photographs of RAB men who
were beating three young men near the Baitul Mukarram area. RAB officials detained him for a
long time and damaged his camera and film.
S.M Gorky informed Odhikar that on March 14, at around 6 p.m. he was returning to the
Jugantor Office on his motorcycle after he had covered a procession of the Awami League at
Bangabandhu Avenue. When he came near the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram Mosque, he
saw the RAB officials beating three youths. Some of them were in uniform and some of them
were in civil dress. He stopped there for some snaps of the incident. No sooner had he taken the
photographs, than two RAB officials attacked him. Other RAB officials joined in and started
beating him.
They scolded him for taking their pictures and snatched his digital camera. They dragged him to
their car and kicked him. They took him to the office of RAB-3 at Tikatuli. There a RAB
official, possibly a Major, insulted him with abusive language. He ordered that Gorky be
detained and also threatened him that they would file a false case of extortion against him. After
keeping him confined in an isolated place for 15/20 minute, they took him to another official,
possibly the Commanding Officer and a Lieutenant Colonel. He behaved politely with him,
apologised for their behavior and released him. Before releasing him they had deleted all the
incriminting photographs from his digital camera.
SM Gorky further informed Odhikar that he was still ill due to torture of RAB. He consulted Dr.
Pran Gopal Shaha for the treatment of his ears. The physician informed him that his ear dram
had ben affected.
RAB-3 personnel did not respond to Odhikar's request for a meeting and declined to provide any
information. They informed Odhikar that they already gave their statement to the newspapers.
Their statement, as published in the newspapers, is given below:
"Leader of RAB-3 Lieutenant Cornel Faruk said that for last two days a team of RAB had been
staying at the Baitul Mukarram area. On Monday evening RAB captured three illegal toll
collectors when they were collecting tolls. At that time, a mob snatched them from RAB and
started beating them. Gorky happened to be there and was taking pictures of the incident and
was also attacked by the mob. RAB officials rescued him from the mob and took him to their
office by car."
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Report 2005