Ayesha Siddiqa Minni, the wife of Rifat Sharif killed in broad daylight in Barguna, has been tortured during remand, said her counsel Mahbubul Bari.

“I talked to Minni at the presence of jail superintendent and Minni has complained of coercion,” he said on Wednesday (Jul 24).

He added that she didn’t elaborate on the methods of torture and she was in need of medical attention.

Saying that Minni has pain all over the body and was limping he added, “The jail super has said if Minni is unwell then all measures will be taken to treat her.”

Minni reportedly expressed her desire to continue studying in prison. The jail superintendant has said that if her father makes and appeal then necessary steps will be taken.

Previously, on Jul 22, Borguna senior judicial magistrate dismissed Minni’s appeal for medical treatment, saying that the jail authority will do the necessary.

On Jul 16, police arrested Minni after taking her in for questioning about the broad daylight killing of her husband Rifat Sharif, to which she was the key witness. The court placed her on a five-day remand the following day.

On Jul 19, she confessed to her involved in the murder.

A group of assailants stabbed Rifat to death in front of his wife outside Barguna Government College on the morning of Jun 26.

A video of the attack later went viral on the internet, which sparked outrage throughout the country. Two men were seen hacking Rifat with sharp weapons as Minni desperately tried to save him.

Rifat was taken to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

In the same day, the victim’s father, Dulal Sharif, filed a case against 12 people, including prime suspects Sabbir Ahmed Nayan alias Nayan Bond and Rifat Farazi.