DUSHANBE, April 28, 2010, Asia-Plus – Two police officers have been arrested in northern Tajikistan in connection with the recent death in police custody of Usman Boboev, RFE/RL”s Tajik Service reported on April 27.
Boboev, 30, returned with his brother from Moscow to their hometown of Isfara in Tajikistan”s northern Sughd Province in February.
He was arrested on suspicion of belonging to the banned Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). One month later, Boboev”s body was returned to his family.
Another Isfara resident, Abdusabour Abduvahhob, told RFE/RL that Boboev”s relatives said his body bore beating marks and burns that appeared to be from electric shocks.
Boboev”s family filed a complaint with the local prosecutor”s office. But Sughd”s chief of police, General Rauf Yusufov, said Boboev died from epilepsy.
There have been previous cases of IMU suspects dying in police custody in Tajikistan, but this is believed to be the first time police officers have been charged in connection with the deaths
