Top brass find it hard to tackle

The suspension of four policemen of Darus Salam Police Station in October over alleged extortion was no one-off.

Since December last year, over a dozen such cases in the DMP area have put the police image in the dock.    

Take the example of Shamsuzzoha Farhad and his wife. The couple was totally shocked when two police officers appeared at their door in the city's Rupnagar and demanded a hefty sum if they wanted to avoid landing in jail.

“There are numerous allegations against you. Give us Tk 5 lakh or else you and your family members will be taken to the police station and then to court in five cases,” the policemen threatened Farhad, as the couple sat in their apartment on December 8 last year.

Frightened, Farhad allegedly gave Sub-Inspector Firoz Wahid and Assistant Sub-Inspector Mizan Tk 2.85 lakh.

Later, he lodged a complaint with the deputy commissioner of Mirpur division against the two cops and took shelter in a relative's house to avoid harassment. In fear of retribution, however, he withdrew the complaint within a few days, he said.

This incident was not reported in the media, but about a dozen cases of police brutality and bribery that came to light since then have left a deep scar on the image of the force (see chart).

Law enforcers must earn public respect and the police department must preserve and advance the principles of democracy, the court said on Thursday.

An officer officer shall not exercise his power arbitrarily violating the dignity, honour, liberty and fundamental rights of a citizen, the top court noted.