Editorial
Home ministry report revealing
This is as it should be
The home ministry probe report on the killing of Mamun Bhuiyan on May 29 has brought to light the real story behind his death while he was under arrest. It has confirmed that he was not snatched from police and then killed by an angry mob. Quite to the contrary, it was Sub-Inspector Nripen Chandra Dey of Kaliganj police station who had reportedly produced Mamun to his rivals who then killed him in front of the police.
We welcome the home ministry initiative which we believe has responded appropriately to a matter of serious public concern. In a rare response to media reports and public concern over sweeping Mamun's death under the carpet, the home ministry report has put things in right perspective.
We were told by an earlier police report that although the police officers neglected their duty to some extent, they could not protect Mamun from an infuriated mob. In other words, the earlier report sought to shield the police personnel from the allegation of complicity in a heinous crime. The home ministry report has revealed that the responsible police officer abused his power by violating both criminal codes and police rules. He was not the investigation officer nor did he have an arrest warrant. Worse still, he made the arrest in plainclothes.
It demonstrates not only the extent to which police abuse their power but also the fact that such abuses are more often than not concealed by questionable investigation. The home ministry report, however, shows that transparent investigation is possible and the only way to hold police accountable for their activities.
While there has been a growing gulf between media and the home bosses especially regarding the extrajudicial activities of the law enforcing agencies, this is an instance of how trust and cooperation between the two can lead to positive developments in ensuring police accountability. We hope this trend will continue to grow instead of the gulf.
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