Withdrawal of responsible policemen not enough

It is not enough to withdraw some policemen over the deaths of four people in Friday's clash in Tangail. The responsible cops must be brought to book for “murder,” the National Human Rights Commission chairman said yesterday.

“Withdrawal can't be a punishment. They [the cops] must be punished under the criminal law for killing people. They must be tried,” Prof Mizanur Rahman said while visiting the spot where the clash and police firing took place.

His comment came hours after the police authorities closed Shahidul Islam and Mokhlesur Rahman, officers-in-charge of Kalihati and Ghatail police stations, on Sunday night.

Sanjoy Sarkar, acting superintendent of Tangail police, told The Daily Star that the two were withdrawn to ensure a fair investigation into the incident.

Earlier on Saturday, the authorities withdrew seven junior-level cops -- three sub-inspectors and four constables of the two stations -- over the bloody incident that left four people dead. 

The police firing occurred in Ghatail on Friday afternoon when several hundred locals took to the streets, protesting an assault of a woman and her son.

The protest came after Rafiqul Islam Roma of Saturia village in Kalihati with the help of some others abused and beat the mother and son, as the boy allegedly developed an affair with Roma's wife.

A clash erupted when police intercepted the demonstration. At one stage, cops opened fire, killing three people, locals said.

A fourth victim succumbed to his bullet wounds at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a rights body yesterday filed a petition with the High Court, seeking its order upon the government for a judicial inquiry into the incident.

The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Zafar Ahmed heard the petition partly and fixed September 30 for further hearing.

Salma Ali, executive director of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA), filed the petition.

She argued that an investigation by police might not be fair, as they themselves were involved in it.

'I'M STUNNED'

Prof Mizanur Rahman visited Kalihati Bus Stand, where the clash took place, and spoke with locals, reports our Tangail correspondent.

The rights boss also met the family members of Rubel Hossain, the fourth victim who died on Sunday, at Dakkhin Betdoba village in Kalihati.

Rubel's mother Ruposhi Begum and other relatives burst into tears and demanded punishment for the responsible policemen. 

Mizanur then visited the tortured mother and her son at Tangail Medical College Hospital where they were being treated.

“I've heard the incident from the son and his mother. I am stunned ... what an uncivilised society we are living in!” he told journalists on the hospital premises.

Responding to a question, he said, “We think the action police took [on the protesters] was illogical and unacceptable, and police have shown their rudeness ... Why such a firing on such a peaceful protest?”

He also assured the victims' families of justice, saying the NHRC would investigate the incident if the probe committees did not look into it properly.