Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 302 Sat. April 02, 2005  
   
Front Page


Odhikar Report
115 killed by law enforcers, 92 in political violence in last 3 months


A total of 115 people were killed, of them 105 in 'crossfire' and 10 in custody, by law enforcers across the country during JanuaryMarch, 2005, according to a report by Odhikar, a human rights organisation.

Of them, 90 people were killed by police, 19 by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), three by Cheetah-Cobra, two by coast guards and one by Detective Branch of police.

Besides, 92 people were killed, 2197 others injured, 580 arrested and three abducted in politics-related violence, said the report based on information published in newspapers.

Among them, thirteen people, including former finance minister and Awami League leader Shah AMS Kibria and four others were killed in grenade attacks while 413 others were injured.

The report reveals that 168 women and children were raped during the period. Of them, 34 were killed after rape and one committed suicide for this reason. And 37 people including 18 women, 12 men and seven children received acid-burns.

In addition, 46 women were killed, 21 others tortured, seven received acid-burns over dowry and three committed suicide for this reason. A total of six people were killed, 27 others injured, 16 abducted and one was raped in Chittagong Hill Tracts region.

The Odhikar report also reveals that during the period, 86 children were killed, 27 injured, 67 raped, 46 abducted, 19 trafficked, nine arrested, 26 were missing, nine received acid-burns and 13 committed suicide.

In three months, a journalist was killed, 36 others were injured, five arrested, 14 assaulted, 55 received death threats, six came under attack and 22 faced cases, the report says.