Staff Reporter :At least 79 people were killed either in ‘so-called encounters’ or custody of the law enforcement agencies in the country between January and June, according to a study released on Thursday by the Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK).ASK, a national legal aid and human rights organisation, in its study says, out of the total, 30 were killed in ‘so-called encounters’ with cops while 24 with the elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).Besides, seven people were killed in ‘so-called crossfire’ with Detective Branch (DB) police and another one was killed in gunfight with a joint team of police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Apart from these, six people were tortured to death by police and BGB, the report said, adding five people were killed in police firing while another one by BGB. The study report further said four died due to illness while one died mysteriously at the custody of a police station.In plainclothes, the members of law enforcing agencies picked up 50 people during the period. Of them, six were found dead, four shown arrested and two others were released later.The rate of children being killed in the country increased alarmingly the report said, adding the ASK expressed concern, saying incidents of brutalities against children in different forms are increasing in the last six months. Based on newspapers’ reports, the ASK said at least 235 children were killed after brutal torture in the last six months and 591 children were tortured in many ways during the period.About 142 people were killed and 9,085 injured in 693 polls-related violence centering Union Parishad election held in six phases across the country, the report says. At least five Hindus including a principal, priest and volunteer of a temple were killed and 66 houses, 49 idols and temples were vandalised.Besides, the report said 42 people died in jail custody. Of them 14 were inmates and 28 detainees, it added.
