Anisul Islam Noor :
A section of police personnel have allegedly involved themselves in different crimes and breaking the law almost everyday, though they are supposed to work honestly to ensure law and order in the country.
In the latest incident, DMP Additional Commissioner Mizanur Rahman, who allegedly married a woman forcibly and tortured her, has been withdrawn from Dhaka Metropolitan Police recently.
Mizan, who holds the rank of deputy inspector general, was attached to the police headquarters.
Earlier talking to the media, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said an enquiry has been launched into the allegations against Mizan.
“Mizan has been withdrawn from the DMP and attached to the police headquarters for the sake of a proper investigation,” he said.
Mizan allegedly picked up 25-year-old Moriam Akter Eko from in front of her Panthapath house on July 15 last year and then forcibly married her, according to a statement of Moriam’s mother Queen Talukdar
Latest data of police headquarters showed that in last six years on an average at least 13,000 police have to face punishment for various crimes every year. It means an average of 1150 police members are being punished every month and at least 38 policemen are punished daily for committing crimes and breaking law.
Since 2012 to November 2017, 511 policemen were deported and 42 were sent to force retirement for involving in crimes and breaking law. Despite punishing them the crime of policemen were not reduced, sources said.
Asked about the police’s crime, Police Headquarters DIG (Media) Abdul Alim Mahmud told The New Nation that after getting complaint against any member of the police force that is investigated immediately and then punishment confirmed on the basis of his offence.
According to the type of crime, there is a sectional case against police member even criminal cases are also being given, he said.
The police official said that no member would take responsibility for personal crimes. There is no chance of getting off on crime – it is understood only by seeing the punishment statistics.
Despite strong warning from police headquarters to prevent crime, some police members are involving in crime like phensidyl, Yaba trading and breaks laws. Corrupt police personnel are also being punished. Still crime does not stop. Field level officials and police constables are being involved in a serious crime like bribery, corruption and drug trading outside, it was alleged.
However, an official who is responsible for the discipline department of the police headquarters preferring anonymity said that after a long investigation, they took action against the accused police. The accused is terminated if he is found guilty of serious crimes. But at least 90 percent of those accused get their job back in court. It is normal that if the culprit gets the job back, the others crime will likely to be increased.
Law and crime experts say that police know the passage in the crime. That’s why it can do so easily. The senior officials will have to be tough to stop it. It cannot be stopped by administrative punishment only, the police will have to stop the appointment and transfer business in desire post.
There should be transparency in these cases; if the harsh punishment is confirmed then the crime of the police force will be reduced.
Eminent lawyer Shahedin Malik said, “If a common people commits an offense, the punishment should be curtained by the police. Police should also face the similar punishment even they commit crime.”
The crime of police members could not be stopped only administrative punishment, he said.
He said, since the police are responsibility for protecting the law, why they are breaking the law.
“In the lower posts of police, the appointment and transfer business should be stopped. Because if a person was appointed giving bribe, he would commit crime in professional life. He will demand additional money out of wages to fulfill that demand and will be involved in crime.” Shahedin Malik said
Omar Faroque, Associate Professor of Criminology and Police Science Department of Moulana Bhashani Science and Technology University, said that crime prevention and crime cannot go simultaneously. To prevent crime in the police, there will be more transparency in the recruitment process.
If a member is to make an illegal payment or to make an appointment or a replacement, then the member will be charged for withdrawing the money, he said.
Former IGP Nurul Huda said police involvement in crime is not possible to stop fully. But it is possible to minimize.
