Police abuse video goes viral

An incident of police abuse came to light after a video clip, taken by an onlooker journalist, went viral on social media.

In the clip, a female train passenger is being verbally abused and being attempted to be assaulted on at Barakhata rail station in Lalmonirhat’s Hatibandha upazila on Thursday around noon. The perpetrators are from Rangpur Range, according to the emblem on their arms.

A police member, nametagged Saddam, was chasing the woman out of a train compartment, filled with other uniformed policemen. The man at one stage was trying to assault the woman physically.

Another policeman, with an earphone in his right ear, was also seen trying to snatch the mobile phone from the journalist.      

The harassed woman, Labonya Akhter, 20, said many women including herself were trying to get on the train on Thursday to attend primary teacher recruitment examination to be held in Lalmonirhat town the next day.

Labonya and two others -- Farzana Khatun, 21, and Hasina Akhter, 20 -- could not get on the compartment as its doorway was being occupied by several police members.

As they asked the policemen to make way, the policemen became furious and pushed them off the compartment, Labonya said, adding, “The cops then jumped out of the compartment and tried to beat us up.”

After being unable to get on the train, the female candidates later reached Lalmonirhat by bus, Labonya also said.   

Journalist Rabiul Islam, district correspondent of Jagonews24.com, said the police members belong to Reserve Force of Rangpur Range.  

Hatibandha Police Station OC Omar Farooque said the video clip was sent to the police range for necessary action.