Former Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kohinoor Miah, along with two others, has been acquitted in a case dating back 18 years involving the torture of a pedestrian. Acting Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Hasibul Haque announced the verdict on Tuesday.
The two others acquitted are former Deputy Commissioner (South) Mazharul Haque and Constable Ruhul Amin. At the time of the verdict, DC Kohinoor was not present, and the court has ordered the withdrawal of his arrest warrant. The other two were present in court.
The case stems from an incident on March 12, 2006, when Shahin Sultana Shanta was allegedly tortured by police in front of Rapa Plaza in Dhanmondi. This occurred during a protest by the Awami League. Shanta was attempting to avoid the clash between police and protesters when she was dragged into a police van, beaten, and had her gold jewellery confiscated.
Shanta filed a complaint with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka on March 14, 2006. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigated but found no evidence. Shanta contested the CID's findings, leading to a judicial inquiry which also dismissed her claims. A subsequent appeal led to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court instructing that the case be recorded as an FIR.
The case, initially filed in Mohammadpur Police Station, saw delays in the charge sheet and trial. Witnesses, who only came forward recently, provided no new evidence.
Kohinoor Miah, who was influential during the BNP-led four-party alliance government, has been involved in other controversial incidents, including the suppression of student protests at Dhaka University in 2002. After the Awami League came to power, he fled and was later dismissed from his position.
