Shawan, a 12 years old domestic worker of the city’s Eskaton area, has decided to escape from 11th floor apartment building to save his life after getting threat by the house owner’s brother in law several times.
Iqbal, brother in law of the house owner, was repeatedly threat Shawon for the last seven months. At last, the boy took a decision to escape following Iqbal’s warning to bring money for him (Iqbal) from his father by June 20.
It wasn’t easy to manage himself to escape as there were lots of security into the house. But he found a pathway to escape. The ventilation of the bathroom was his escaping point. He climbed down from the 11th floor of the building with the help of pipe. But he was captured and was beaten by the house owner. later a resident of the area phoned to the police. Police was rushed to the spot and detained three people immediately.
While talking to Jago News Shawan described his bad experiences. Following this incident, Iqbal, brother in law of the house owner, Tamanna Khan, wife of Iqbal, Tanjilur Rahman, son the house owner were detained. The owner of the house and his wife are still absconding.
Shawan said, “A total of five people were living in the house. All the members of the family were beating me. Once a key of the suitcase had been lost, they assumed I had stolen the key and took money from it. Sometimes they were beating me by iron rod. They gave me electronic shock sometimes. I got feared during that time.”
Shawan, son of Jahangir Hossen Kalu, hailing from North Sahebganj area in Faridganj upazila of Chandpur district. He was a student of Badarpur Alia Madrasa in Faridganj.
He has been working in the 11th floor of the Eskaton’s 12/a house for last seven months.
“They brought me to Dhaka for educational purpose. But they didn’t admit me to any schools. I had been done all sorts of work, but I didn’t get money,” he added.
Shawan said: “A day after the event, the key of their suitcase was lost. They alleged that there was a lot of money in the suitcase. Iqbal thought, I stole the key. So, he beat me with an iron-rod. His nephew Tanzilur serves a job after completing the study in engineering. Even, after hearing this, he also beat me a lot after returning home. A day after losing the key, he does not get 10 thousands taka, in another day, he said that he is not getting 20 thousands taka. Every day I was beaten for money. One day Iqbal called everyone and gave me electric socks. In fear of electric shock I told that I stole money. A few days after that incident, Iqbal himself found the key to suitcases. Then he did not say anything else.”
After the beating, I used to talk to my father or to the people of my village occasionally over the phone. Tanzilur used to sit always in front of me so that I couldn’t tell them about the torture. Once, he kept holding a knife on my neck while I was talking. He threatened to kill me if I call them about the incident over phone. I did not say anything at home in fear of beating again. At the end of fasting days, they brought an allegation against me of stealing 2.5 lakh taka. Though I didn’t steal the money. They threatened that if I do not return the money by June 20, they’ll handed me and my father to police. In fear of this threat, I climb down along the pipe.
When asked Shawon, don’t you feel afraid while climbing down the pipe, he answered, I used to climb the trees in my child. There was a little bit habit, I was afraid a little also. But, if I didn’t climb down the pipe, I would have been persecuted. So I decided to do this.
On Wednesday night, Shawon climbed down to the pipe to save his life. But he couldn’t escape. He was caught. Then they started torturing again.
Police of Ramna police station rescued the boy and detained three householder following a resident of the area noticed the matter, and informed the police over emergency help line number 999 about the incident.
Raman police station Sub-inspector Mosarrof Hossen told Jago New: ‘They (householders) gave me wrong information that the boy was detained for alleged involvement in stealing. But, three of the householders acknowledged the matter after interrelation at police station.”
Stains of persecution were traced on the different parts of child’s body. He will be sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for treatment, he added.
Additional Deputy-Commissioner of Ramna police H M Azimul Hoque said: ‘The accused confessed the matter of torture in primary interrogation. They are being sued under the Women and Children Repression Act. Attempts are being taken to arrest remaining of who are involved in the incident.’