Law enforcers getting into criminal acts
Visiting two people, allegedly shot in the leg by police, at a hospital in the capital, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman yesterday alleged that law enforcers were increasingly getting involved in criminal activities.
"They [law enforcers] are running a 'business of detention' and extorting general people. They are even shooting people if they refuse to pay," he told reporters, after talking to the two men at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (Nitor).
The two from Jessore town are locally known as criminals. Salman Sikder Biki, 25, who claimed to be a seller of vehicle spare parts, and Masudur Rahman Nannu, 38, who called himself a fruit seller, said they were shot in their left legs by Kotwali police of Jessore on June 15 and May 31 respectively.
The NHRC chief said police could not do this even to criminals. The two incidents are a clear evidence of law enforcers' increasing involvement in criminal acts, he added.
Doctors at Nitor advised amputation of Biki's leg. Nannu, however, narrowly escaped losing his leg.
Biki told the NHRC chief that a police team led by Sub-inspector Soyeb Uddin picked him up from his residence at Pujor Hat and took him to Chachra police outpost. They demanded Tk 10 lakh from his parents. As they refused, they fired at his left leg point blank after taking him to the nearby Dalmil graveyard area.
Nannu, who also claimed to be vice-president of Jessore District Tarun League, said three to four police led by Soyeb picked him up from his shop. After blindfolding him, they took him to an unknown place in a microbus and shot him there, he said. He alleged that police shot him taking money from some of his rivals in the Awami League.
Both victims said police told them that they acted on the order of their top officials.
Regarding this, the NHRC chief drew the attention of the state minister for home and the inspector general of police, and asked, "Who are the top officials ordering this?"
Denying the allegations, SI Soyeb said both of them were criminals. Biki was found with the bullet injury after a "gunfight" between police and muggers, he told The Daily Star. About Nannu, he said he was not aware of that incident.
Our Jessore Correspondent said at least two people were killed and 29 others were injured allegedly in recent police firing but police claimed these were "gunfights".
Sources said Jessore police had recently launched a crackdown on muggers and other criminals and got success in some cases. But some police personnel got involved in the "business of detention" taking this advantage, they added.
Reshman Sharmin, senior assistant superintendent of police in Jessore, said Biki was a top criminal but locals dared not to sue him fearing retribution, while Nannu was accused in eight cases, including murder cases, with Kotwali Police Station.
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