'Arrest trade' by police

IT is learnt from reports that 101 police officials have been charged with the offence of  'releasing people after arresting them  in exchange for money.'  It is common knowledge that such dishonest practice exists in the police department. However, we would like to be assured by the fact that the government has finally not only taken notice of it, but has also issued orders to take action against the culprits.
At this point, while we appreciate Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan's words that action will be taken against errant members of the police, we would rather take his assurance of departmental action against the accused with a grain of salt. For we have seen enough of this kind of 'departmental action' which in most cases go up in smoke.
The home ministry, or the government for that matter, must take special care to see that this case of gross irregularities and huge scandal committed by the police does not end in eyewash. What is at stake here is the police's image. The public's confidence in police has also descended to a new low. To reverse the trend, the government will have to make a serious move to restore public confidence in the police. To that end, the first thing it will have to do is to hit at the base of the 'culture of impunity' attributable to the political use of police by the powers that be. Also, the long overdue task of police reform has to be completed.