Responsible persons to be tried for mob beating: Anisul Huq

Law Minister Anisul Huq today said the government will enquire into the incidents of mob beating and will bring the people responsible for the incidents to trial.

“Any kind of beating of people, whether it be mob beating or personal beating, is an offence. The persons arrested in connection with the incidents of mob beating will be tried under the existing laws,” he said.

He said this while talking to reporters after attending as chief guest a meeting with the civil society regardingthe United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) organised by the foreign ministry at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka.

The law minister said the government will look into the reasons behind the repeated incidents of fires, rape and mob beating.

Some incidents have normality while others have an abnormality, he said.

“Several incidents of fire, rape and mob beating took place continuously which is abnormal. Eleven incidents of mob beating in seven days are abnormal as such incident did not happen last year. Ten to 15 incidents of rape in few days are also abnormal,” he said.

Replying to a question, the law minister said the media make reports as the incidents are taking place.

“It is not the pro-activeness of the media,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Minister Anisul said the number of extrajudicial killing has come down.

“We are going ahead toward such a situation so that a single extrajudicial killing does not take place. The government has taken necessary steps to stop incident of any torture,” he said.

The law minister also said the government has made a draft of the antidiscrimination law in order to eliminate discrimination from the society.