14 killed in political violence in July; 6 fell victim to extra-judicial killing: Odhikar
At least 14 people were killed and 1,123 injured in political violence across Bangladesh from July 1 to July 31 this year while seven people were killed and 762 others injured in political violence in the country during June.
The revelation came in a report about death in political violence in Bangladesh in June and July, 2012, made by Odhikar, a human rights group.
Odhikar in its report released on Wednesday said seven persons were killed and 430 others injured in 46 incidence of infighting in ruling Awami League while one person was killed and 104 others were injured in 11 factional clashes of main opposition party BNP.
According to information gathered by Odhikar, six persons were killed extra-judicially by members of law enforcement agencies last month.
Among the victims, three were killed in gun fights with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and three others were shot dead by members of Bangladesh Ansar.
Due to the weak criminal justice system, the tendency of taking the law into one's own hand is rising, as people are losing their confidence and faith in police and the judiciary, Odhikar commented in its report.
A total of 14 people were killed in mob beating across the country last month, the Odhikar report mentioned.
According to statistics, data document shown in the report one journalist was killed, another was tortured by Detective Branch (DB) of police, 34 were injured, two came under attack, five were assaulted and three journalists received threat on July 1-31.
Incidents of human rights violations along India-Bangladesh border also occurred in July.
Five Bangladeshi citizens were killed allegedly by India`s Border Security Force (BSF); among them three were shot dead and two were tortured to death in the month of July, the Odhikar report said.
BSF beat and injured 11 Bangladeshis; among them six were shot and five tortured. During this period, two Bangladeshis were abducted by BSF.
Violence against women continued in July. A significant number of women were the victims of rape, dowry related violence, acid violence and sexual harassment during this period, the Odhikar report said.
Violence against women persists in high numbers due to weak criminal justice system and the numbers of criminals accused of committing violence against women marked a rise in the society in July due to the failure to bring them under justice and effective apply law against them.
During this period, 43 women and one 16-year-old girl, who is also a victim of early marriage, were subjected to dowry related violence. Of these women, it has been alleged that 25 women were killed because of dowry and 18 were ill-treated in various other ways for dowry demands.
Besides, a total of 47 girls and women were victims of sexual harassment. Among them, one was killed by stalkers, one was injured, 15 were victims of attempted rape and 30 were sexually harassed in various ways.
Furthermore, three men were injured and 14 other men and one woman were assaulted by stalkers for protesting such crimes.
A total of 55 females were reportedly raped in July. Among them, 29 were
Women and 25 were children below the age of 16.
Of the women, one was killed after being raped, 13 were victims of gang rape. Out of the 25 child victims, two children were killed after being raped and four were victims of gang rape.
Six persons became victims of acid violence. Among them, four were women, one was a man and the other was a girl
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