Home boss for pepper spray

Home Minister MK Alamgir yesterday said international conventions approve pepper spray as a tool for dispersing unlawful assembly and this is why nobody has the right to argue over its use.
The minister made the statement while replying to queries of local journalists in Chandpur, at a time when police are facing criticism for using pepper and teargas sprays indiscriminately on people at close contact.
A day ago, Supreme Court lawyer Aklas Uddin Bhuiyan served a legal notice asking the government to stop within 24 hours the use of pepper spray on people.
In the notice, he mentioned the Los Angeles Times had reported that 61 death incidents happened between 1990 and 1995 due to the use of pepper spray.
According to US army, pepper spray can cause cancer and diseases to heart, lungs, blood circulation, nerve and brain, the notice said.
The minister, who earlier in the day attended as the chief guest of freshers' reception at Kachua Bangabandhu Degree College in the district, also told the journalists, “We have to keep in mind that it [pepper spray] is used to stop anarchy.”
When cops go to control unruly mobs, they will not go with garlands, he added.
Noted writer and Professor Muntasir Mamun, also secretary of the college managing committee, presided over the reception.
Later, the minister distributed blankets among the poor at Ashrafpur School ground and Jagatpur Bazar in the upazila.