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Punish the predator

Muhammad Nurul Huda
THE recent arrest of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, working in Rab, on charges of robbery baffles all citizens and undoubtedly puts the law enforcement apparatus in great shame. Such predatory acts by higher echelons of police, though not on a disturbing frequency shatter the much-desired credibility of the crime fighting organidation. The element of trust assumes prime significance when one hears exhortations of lawmen imploring members of public to become proactive partners in the crime prevention campaign.
Unfortunately, there have been cases in which the protectors of law have themselves turned into its prime violators. Instances of policemen associating themselves in crimes like rape, robbery and extortion have dangerously lowered the image of the service. False encounters, custodial violence and trampling of human rights, which many of the so-called successful officers rejoice in resorting to often end up, sooner or later, in criminal proceedings against them
The important aspect to remember in the sordid transaction is that criminal or departmental proceedings in respect of the aforementioned gross delinquency often lose their momentum after some lapse of time. Experience shows that hurriedly initiated departmental pro-
ceedings while getting rid of the delinquent often leave loopholes that the offending functionary takes advantage of in the subsequent criminal proceedings and succeeds in reinstating himself, much to the discomfiture of the authority and the suffering public. Thus, it is no wonder that the establishment on many occasions fails to adequately check the criminal proclivities of potential and actual delinquents.
It is in the background of such eventualities that this writer urges the inspector general of police to vigorously pursue the criminal case that must have been registered against the officer arrested on charges of robbery. Evidence available prima facie indicates that it should not be difficult to submit charge sheet in days and help the court in pronouncing on the culpability. If the officer is found guilty, it would not be difficult to dismiss him and thus there would be no scope for a reentry into the service.
It has to be borne in mind that the criminal depredations of police have an extremely deleterious implication for the over-all image for two important reasons: one, being in uniform the corrupt policeman immediately catches public attention, and two, since the complainant the police deal with is often a person with a grievance, any corrupt demand imposed on him pains beyond measure.
While deliberating on the subject of
police delinquency it would be relevant to refer to the lackadaisical attitude of superior police officers resulting in slackness and looseness in supervision. On coming to know about criminal acts of policemen, the superior police officers should lose no time in getting a criminal case, if prima-facic made out by the facts of the case, registered and investigated, if need be, by the nearest unit of CID.
The delinquent should be arrested, placed under suspension and the case put up before court for trial. Delay in taking action should be adjudged as supervisory negligence and the default -
ing official should be punished for that. Swift action will not only be appreciated by the citizens but would also go a long way in serving as an effective deterrent to other errant police officers as well.
Experience also shows that police officers guilty of inaction often go scot-free. In reality, inaction deserves great retribution because it amounts to gross negligence and remissness in the discharge of duty and unfitness for the same. Therefore, when inaction is met by severe punishment, it motivates policemen to act and take initiative; and inaction is unmistakably an image-shattpring factor. Somehow this has
become a visible part of Bangladesh's contemporary police culture.
Criminal acts by the policemen will definitely lessen and stand discouraged if believers in the rule of law and followers of the straight legal methods are not sidelined by the political executives who consider such officers as "cows" and "sissies" that are not fit enough to deal with explosive law and order situations. If we arc primarily interested in short-term spectacular but actually illusory results then it would be problematic to check the deviant officials. Desperate officials will naturally indulge in unlawful acts, con-
sidering such acts as compensation for their extra zeal.
In retrospect, it would be proper and relevant to point out that policemen's living off the land was made integral to the scheme of police organisation designed in 1861. It was a well thought-out decision that an adversarial relationship between the police and the "natives" was necessary to ensure political control of and obedience to the colonial government. The purpose was admirably achieved by creating and sustaining an extortion -based relationship between the police and the natives.
Corruption threatens to eat into the vitals of police working as professionalism gets eroded and the capacity to fight against terrorism and crime is depleted. In addition, the fact of policemen’s legitimate expectations often getting clouded by considerations extraneous to the profession has been a damper in the fight against corruption and highhandedness.
In Bangladesh the opportunity cost of being corrupt is very low; if the cost of losing one's job is very low as compared to losing the corruption related money, then the rational choice may be to accept bribes. In such a situation if extra-departmental aspects replace professional considerations and penalty for deviance becomes ineffective on account of extraneous interference as in the past, there will always be incentive for inefficiency and corruption.
A punishment and reward-based system would be critical to achieving the goal of minimising corruption. A strong accountability mechanism coupled with commensurate compensation polices could be the essential elements of a desirable system.
Muhammad Nurul Huda is a columnist of The Daily Star.