Ex-Kaliganj OC faces probe as multiple charges filed
Former officer in charge (OC) of Kaliganj Police Station is facing multiple charges including those for bribery and fabricating false cases in Jhenidah.
The officer in question, Md Yunus Ali Mollah, was in office from September 2018 until October last his year when he was closed to Khulna Range Reserve Force (RRF) following numerous complaints from sub-inspectors and locals of Kaliganj.
Khulna RRF Commandant Mst Taslima Khatun recorded statement of 32 police men and three locals against Yunus on December 14.
One of the accusers, Rabiul Islam, a vegetable vendor of Komorhati village under Kaliganj upazila, told this correspondent that Yunus asked for bribe when he went to his station this year to collect a clearance certificate for his son.
“Officer-in-Charge Yunus Ali said he would not give it until I paid him Tk 7000. When I said that it was impossible for me to pay such an amount, he said that I was free to leave if I could not pay at least Tk 5,000. He said his usual rate for such tasks was Tk 7000,” Rabiul told this paper.
Similar complaint came from Arab Ali of Tailakup village. “He [Yunus Ali] lacks humane qualities. He took Tk 5,000 from me before providing me a police clearance certificate.”
Abdul Khalek, a suspected drug peddler of Rakhalgachhi village, was arrested on April 30. He told this correspondent that the former OC had let him walk out of the jail in exchange of Tk 12,000 bribe.
Sub-inspectors of the station have also levelled grave allegations against the former OC.
One assistant sub-inspector (ASI) said, “The OC assigned me to work on a case where the accused was a relative of mine. Later I found out that he took bribe from the accused and dismissed the case.
“If any SI, ASI or constable raised voice against these ill-practices, he threatened them. He misbehaved and said that he would transfer that staffer from his station,” said the ASI wishing not to be named.
Another ASI stated similar experience. “Former OC Yunus Ali treated his staff with utmost disrespect and threatened them over trivial issues. I was among the 32 officers who gave testimonies against him on December 14.”
Shahriar Alam Sohag, Kaliganj correspondent of Bangla daily Jugantor, said he was framed in a case before the December 30 elections last year.
“I talked to the accuser who said he did not know me and therefore, there was no question of prosecuting me. He said OC Yunus and four or five officers in plainclothes had taken his signature on some documents. I have this conversation recorded in my phone. I have submitted it at the Discipline and Professional Standard wing of the police headquarters.
“Yunus Ali told me that he would omit my name from the charge sheet but he did not do so as I did not pay him any bribe. I have filed formal complaints to the Khulna Range DIG seeking punishment for Yunus,” Shahriar told this paper.
When contacted over phone, Yunus said he did not know anything about the allegations and snapped the call.
Milu Mia Biswas, additional superintendent of police in Jhenidah, said investigation was on against Yunus but only high-ranking officials were handling the matter.
“I will not disclose anything now as that will hamper the investigation process,” he added.
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