Police must work to combat crimes

A VERNACULAR daily on Wednesday reported that a businessman in Chittagong detected a person at a public place who, along with two others, robbed huge quantity of gold ornaments from him on September 21. But police immediately found out that the accused is a member of Special Branch (SB) of police. So when the two accused were immediately arrested, the SB personnel remained at large on the plea that formalities must be completed to put him under the bar. The incident is no more a rare case as we observe many such incidents in recent past. But they remain largely unpunished to make others audacious to break law and engage in theft and mugging. This in turn is making the people disrespectful to law enforcers and anarchy to break out.
The businessman said three people in a motorbike intercepted his auto-rickshaw while he was going to Dhaka in the morning on that day. The trio threatened him to drive to a lane away of the main road and snatched 102 bhoris of gold and other valuables from him. The businessman later filed a case with Kotwali Police Station, Chittagong, accusing three unanimous persons. The petitioner said the three muggers introduced themselves as the members of Rapid Action Battalion and Police. They possessed wireless handsets resembled to police carrying handsets, handcuffs and a pistol. Police investigation has revealed that the SB personnel along with two others were involved in the mugging.
The corresponding incident is a terrible one where law enforcers are found guilty in crimes like mugging. It is widely perceived that a few member of law enforcing agencies are indulging in crimes like mugging, snatching and corruption using their power at field level using the unstable political situation. Some of them are highly politicized and enjoying impunity for working closely with local ruling party men.
The police high-ups should strongly handle such elements in the force so that others could be aware of the consequences. Law enforcers are the last resort of people’s safety and security who can bring peace, stability and harmony in state. If the force mudded with crime, where the people get their security? It is advisable that the accused policemen must get due punishment to break the prevailing culture of impunity. Besides, merit based recruitment; professional training and strong chain of command in the force could be enforced to ensure law enforcers are working to ensure peace and order, not breaking it.