Four cops suspended for harassing woman

Following public outcry over the video of policemen harassing a young woman late on Monday night, the police headquarters has suspended an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Rampura police station and closed two other policemen.

Shohel Rana, AIG (Media and Public) of the police headquarters, told The Independent that a committee had been formed to investigate the matter, after which action would be taken against the policemen.

“Five accused have been indentified and legal action will be taken against them. We are interrogating them. The suspended ASI was the team leader and the other four were from the Public Management Order (PMO). An assistant commissioner of police of the Mothijeel zone is the investigating officer” said the AIG. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said in a Facebook statement that action would be taken against those involved in the incident.

Masudur Rahaman, deputy commissioner (Media and Public), told The Independent that investigation is going, but he was not aware about the suspension order.

Interestingly, the video was allegedly uploaded by one of the five policemen present on the spot.

Organisations working for women’s rights issued statements demanding exemplary punishment of the policemen involved.

The Bangladesh Mahila Parishad said the government should ensure safe road for women, free of harassment. It said a video went viral on the social media, showing policemen harassing a woman at the Rampura checkpost. Instead of checking, policemen are seen harassing the woman and one of the policemen took a video shot which was later uploaded on Facebook.

The woman was requesting them to check her bag, but the policemen shone a torchlight on her face and made lewd comments, said the statement.

The Mahila Parishad expressed concern and anger, saying it is the duty of society, state and law enforcers to ensure the safety and freedom of women for the country’s progress and women empowerment. It demanded proper investigation into the incident and exemplary punishment of the policemen.

Earlier, a video shot of 6.23 minutes went viral on the social media, showing policemen harassing a young woman at a checkpost in the capital. It triggered a huge public outcry. The incident took place around 2:30am on Monday in front of the Rampura TV station.

Two policemen were seen in the video harassing a woman travelling in a three-wheeler (CNG). They used foul language and shone a torchlight on her. An altercation broke out between the woman and the policemen.

The women urged the policemen to check her bag instead of shining the torchlight on her. But the law enforcers were trying to establish that she was a prostitute and said she had come out of a hotel late at night.

The policemen continued the harassment and also threatened her that they would take her away. She was finally allowed to go without her handbag being checked.

The whole incident was captured by another policeman and the video was uploaded on Facebook. Many social media users protested the behaviour of the policemen.

 

Four cops suspended for harassing woman

Following public outcry over the video of policemen harassing a young woman late on Monday night, the police headquarters has suspended an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Rampura police station and closed two other policemen. Shohel Rana, AIG (Media and Public) of the police headquarters, told The Independent that a committee had been formed to investigate the matter, after which action would be taken against the policemen. Five accused have been indentified and legal action will be taken against them. We are interrogating them. The suspended ASI was the team leader and the other four were from the Public Management Order (PMO). An assistant commissioner of police of the Mothijeel zone is the investigating officer said the AIG. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said in a Facebook statement that action would be taken against those involved in the incident. Masudur Rahaman, deputy commissioner (Media and Public), told The Independent that investigation is going, but he was not aware about the suspension order. Interestingly, the video was allegedly uploaded by one of the five policemen present on the spot. Organisations working for womens rights issued statements demanding exemplary punishment of the policemen involved. The Bangladesh Mahila Parishad said the government should ensure safe road for women, free of harassment. It said a video went viral on the social media, showing policemen harassing a woman at the Rampura checkpost. Instead of checking, policemen are seen harassing the woman and one of the policemen took a video shot which was later uploaded on Facebook. The woman was requesting them to check her bag, but the policemen shone a torchlight on her face and made lewd comments, said the statement. The Mahila Parishad expressed concern and anger, saying it is the duty of society, state and law enforcers to ensure the safety and freedom of women for the countrys progress and women empowerment. It demanded proper investigation into the incident and exemplary punishment of the policemen. Earlier, a video shot of 6.23 minutes went viral on the social media, showing policemen harassing a young woman at a checkpost in the capital. It triggered a huge public outcry. The incident took place around 2:30am on Monday in front of the Rampura TV station. Two policemen were seen in the video harassing a woman travelling in a three-wheeler (CNG). They used foul language and shone a torchlight on her. An altercation broke out between the woman and the policemen. The women urged the policemen to check her bag instead of shining the torchlight on her. But the law enforcers were trying to establish that she was a prostitute and said she had come out of a hotel late at night. The policemen continued the harassment and also threatened her that they would take her away. She was finally allowed to go without her handbag being checked. The whole incident was captured by another policeman and the video was uploaded on Facebook. Many social media users protested the behaviour of the policemen.