Extortion by police

Robbery and extortion have been the exclusive preserve of the criminals, but now they seem to have competitors outside their clan. Whatever their number, the police are now getting involved in forays so long reserved for criminals alone. Handful they may be, but who knows how their ranks are growing.
Disquieting news from Rajshahi has it that eight members of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police led by an Assistant commissioner went to a doctor's house at Laxmipur area in the city. They wanted to search his house because he allegedly had stored Indian garlic in his house. They coerced the doctor's family into paying one lakh taka promising no further harassment.
Primary probe report by RMP special branch confirmed that the eight cops were involved in the extortion act. We are happy that the police have taken commendable step by promptly arresting them. Hopefully, exemplary measures will be taken against them.
There have been allegations of police involvement in variety of reprehensible activities lately such as extortion, harassing innocents, refusing to record complaints at the police stations, conniving with criminals in carrying out unlawful acts and meting out torture in custody.
Let's not forget the instances of good work done by the police despite their limited logistics. However, this cannot make up for the misdeeds their peers often surprise us with. The police are the face of the government and if they should smear themselves by abusing power and victimizing the innocents they are doing injustice to their uniform.
There has been talk of reforming the police to bring about qualitative changes in its service and standards. Despite heaps of recommendations no reforms have been carried out as yet. This raises misgiving in the public mind that a thoroughbred reform of the police might keep them above politicization. That may be the reason why no political party is serious on this score.
While no mercy must be shown to the wayward members of any rank and position in the force, the government must go all out to carry forward the police reform process to a logical conclusion.