Patna, Feb. 19: The Bihar State Human Rights Commission (BSHRC) has sought a detailed report from Magadh range deputy inspector-general (DIG) on the arrest of Jehanabad trader Abu Hanzala in connection with the supply of explosives to the Maoists operating in Magadh region.

The BSHRC’s deputy secretary shot off a letter last week asking the DIG (Magadh range) Nayyar Hasnain Khan to submit the report to the commission within four weeks. “The report should reach the office of the commission within the stipulated time so that further course of action could be taken in the case,” the letter stated.

The commission took cognisance of the matter following a complaint filed by the victim’s wife Shabnam Bano, a resident of Fida Hussain Road in Jehanabad town. Bano, in her petition, alleged that her husband was picked up from their house on January 6, but the police showed his arrest from a Gaya hideout of the Maoist.

Initially, the police refused to divulge any information on Hanzala’s arrest and his whereabouts. “There was no trace of my husband for almost two days. Though I approached the police officers of Jehanabad and Makhdumpur police stations, they did not give any satisfactory reply. To my utter surprise, the next evening the police confirmed his arrest and that too from Gaya,” she said.

She also alleged that security personnel were torturing Hanzala.

Earlier, Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vinay Kumar had told reporters that Hanzala had close links with the Maoists and was engaged in supply of explosives to the rebels for the past several years.

The information on the arrest was also sought under the Right to Information Act 2005, which gave a twist to the entire episode. The information provided to Bano by the office of Jehanabad superintendent of police (SP) under RTI on February 7, said: “A Gaya police team took Abu Hanzala into custody for interrogation from his Fida Hussain Road in Jehanabad.”

“The contradictory statements of Gaya and Jehanabad police over the arrest of Hanzala have raised questions over the credentials of the men in uniform,” Bano said, adding that she had faith in the BSHRC and it would deliver justice to the family.

The chief judicial magistrate (Jehanabad), on the other hand, has taken cognisance against seven police officers, including the Gaya SSP, and sought a report from the Jehanabad SP.