Staff Reporter :
Police will open fire if necessary in a bid to combat mugging, burglary and extortion in the city, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia warned on Thursday.
“Police have been asked to open fire in retaliation according to the law that gives them the right to protect themselves when they will come under attack by the criminals,” he told journalists after a view-exchange meeting on ‘law and order and traffic management’ at Gabtoli in the city. The DMP boss said, police will open fire to stop thieves, muggers, extortionists and hooligans if it is needed. “No criminals will be spared.”
He said, they have taken all-out security measures alongside other law enforcement agencies in the capital, Dhaka to ensure people’s Eid shopping without any problem.
“Muggers, Malam party and Ogyan party will have no chance to roam the city in free style in a bid to loot people’s money and valuables,” he said, adding at least 200 kidnappers have already been sent to jail for different terms by a number of mobile courts.
By returning fire, law enforcers will exercise their right as per the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to protect themselves, as well as the citizens at any time.
When asked about recent so-called ‘encounter’, he said, police are not involved in crossfire.
“Our duty is to nab criminals and bring them to justice. But sometimes we have to retaliate if our forces come under attack when we launch raids to net criminals,” the DMP Commissioner said, adding during the exchange of fire, they (police) can get killed, or the criminals.
