Human rights groups have expressed fears for two survivors of the deadly siege at a Bangladesh cafe, who are missing after being grilled by the police over the attack.
Amnesty International has asked the authorities to establish ‘the fate and whereabouts’ of Hasnat Karim and Tahmid Khan, who survived the attack and have been missing since being taken in for questioning 11 days ago.
Family members of Tahmid Khan said that they were in the dark about the 22-year-old Toronto University student’s whereabouts, after he was taken into police custody for a probe into the attack.
His family has appealed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for help, according to a CBC report.
The police had rescued 13 people from the Dhaka cafe, including Karim and Khan. Police said that both of them were initially interrogated, as they tried to piece together what had happened during the siege. But police now say that the pair is no longer under their custody.
We questioned them immediately after they were rescued. But they are no longer in police custodyMasudur Rahman, Dhaka Police Spokesman
A military spokesman also said that the two were not in their custody.
Fears for the pair’s safety have been compounded after an 18-year-old injured survivor died in a hospital after claims by his father that he was tortured by security forces. He was rescued during the siege and was described as suspect,
Relatives of Karim and Khan insist both men have no connection to the attack which was claimed by the ISIS group.
My husband is innocent. He has suffered enough. Please let him come home to his family.Sharmina Parveen, Karim’s Wife
Reports in local media said the two were being investigated for suspicious activity during the siege. They said Khan was seen holding a firearm and Karim strolling with the attackers on the roof.
(With inputs from PTI)
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