The saga of police brutality shows no sign of relenting. This time Jibon, a 19-year youth from Rangpur city has fallen victim to such insane atrocities. Reportedly, he was picked up by the police from his residence at Jummapara of that city before shooting in both of his legs. His legs had to be amputated later on in the Rangpur Medical College Hospital. This has unmistakeable similarity with another such shooting incident involving a boy named Limon.
Shockwaves were sent across the country when Limon Hossain, a hapless boy from a subsistence family in a coastal district, was shot in his leg for no fault of his own. Not that he was the first to suffer such brutality at the hands of men in uniform. His case was closely followed by the media and staunchly defended by the rights groups, particularly the National Human Rights Commission Bangladesh. But the trial and tribulation the college student had to go through, despite such supports, could be enough for most people in such a situation to resign to the fate.
Undaunted the boy had faced adversities, harassment, physical pain and mental agony in a Promethean manner before all the false cases against him was withdrawn. But Jibon seems to be destined for a worse fate. Limon with one leg intact can now walk on his artificial leg. Jibon lost both his legs and media coverage has not been extensive. Even his poor family dared not file a case against the men in uniform in the face of continued threat. A casual report submitted by the police on the incident shows that there was a clear attempt to save all who were involved in the dastardly act. And this reportedly is an observation by responsible sources in the police itself.
The story carried in a Bangla daily three months after the occurrence of the incident is indication enough that even the media failed to follow it. The rights bodies and the National Human Rights Commission Bangladesh are not known to have taken up the incident very seriously. This is rather surprising particularly when the media are now more pro-active and hungry for news. How can such an incident in Rangpur City escape notice of both print and electronic media? Is there something fishy or the police there were more powerful enough to intimidate everyone so that report on the incident did not see the light of day?
There is no mention of the young man's profession. Both Limon and Kadar, another victim of police brutality, were students. The latter was a student of the University of Dhaka when he was picked up and mercilessly assaulted in the police station. Did Jibon fail to make news because he was not a student? Only recently, though, another man who had served as a driver in the police department before quitting was shot in his leg by a police officer on grounds of personal enmity. The officer was closed.    Â
Sure enough, such tragedy can happen as a consequence of mistaken identities. But they cannot happen too often. The law enforcers have given a very poor account of themselves not only at the time of occurrence but also when admission of the truth would have been a better course. True, the errant members of the law enforcement agencies are receiving punishment. The question is if that is a rule rather than an exception and stringent enough to act as a deterrent to such criminal acts by them.
Police do it once again
Neil Ray | Published: November 24, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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