Minor Paritosh Sarkar jailed for 8 months in solitary confinement without evidence [Rangpur, Bangladesh ]

[ Reported as seen ]

A student of class 10, Paritosh Sarkar has been held guilty of blasphemy against Islam through a derogatory social media post, in Pirganj, Bangladesh. However, as of latest, there has been no evidence found against him, alongwith the said ‘derogatory’ post, ever  being posted.

According Pirganj police station, Paritosh has been sentenced under section 31 (1), of the DSA which criminalises the publication of anything that “creates enmity, hatred or hostility among different classes or communities of the society, or destroys communal harmony.”

Sessions Judge of the Rangpur Cyber Tribunal, Abdul Mojid handed the verdict. Poritosh, a minor, was also put into a solitary confinement of 8 months, while he was undergoing trial, that is, his crime was yet to be proved. The prison authorities had told Poritosh’s lawyer and his family that he was being kept there for his ‘own safety’. Solitary confinement more  than 15 consecutive days is recognized by the United Nations as “torture”.

Paritosh  was denied bail thrice by the Rangpur Cyber Tribunal. On May 09, 2022 he was finally released on bail after a High Court order was released in this regard. But, on February 5, Judge Abdul Mojid sent him to jail again.