THE Superintendent of Police in Feni was closed on Sunday for negligence of duty over the murder of Madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi. Following a decision made by the Home Ministry, the SP was closed and attached to Police Headquarters. The decision came weeks after a probe committee found evidence against the SP and three other police officers in connection with violating departmental discipline, tarnishing the image of police, and professional misconduct. The three other policemen are former Officer-in-Charge of Sonagazi Police Station and two Sub-Inspectors of the same station.
The probe committee led by a Deputy Inspector General in PHQ submitted its report on April 30. According to newspaper report, the probe committee found that the Feni SP did not visit the spot even after receiving information of Nusrat being set on fire. Rather, he opted to attend a programme of lesser importance. Not only that, the SP also tried to misguide the police headquarters and other police high-ups, terming the incident “a suicide attempt”. The SP even wrote to the police headquarters claiming that the victim’s family was not cooperating with police in filing a case.
The former OC of Sonagazi Police Station was suspended and attached to the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Rangpur Range. But the local people of Rangpur registered protest against his posting by forming human chains on the street. The OC is not yet arrested despite huge protests from general people for his alleged involvement in the crime. What we see that, a section of police members do not hesitate to commit any sort of crime for their personal financial benefit as they keep close link with political circle. In the specific case of Rafi, the OC got support from local political leaders who controlled the Madrasa governing body.
It was damaging for police discipline and role as law enforcers with public confidence were badly used politically. Such politicisation of police has gone as far ensuring election victory for the government. The consequence of abuse of police power politically should have been known to the experienced high police officials. But they remain indifferent. Now police are found in cooperating in committing crimes by the politically influential local leaders. Now it is the responsibility of the highest police authority in the police to be harsh in dealing with the officials colluded with the crime in Feni.
It is not enough to withdraw the SP or former OC found associated directly with the heinous crime of punishing a girl student burning her to death openly knowing nobody is there to do justice. Both the officers are liable to be under the judicial process for earning the trust of the people that convincing steps have been taken by police high-ups.
