Eleven police personnel, including six officers, have been temporarily suspended following allegations of assaulting a local Swecchasebak Dal leader inside Kotwali Police Station in Rangpur city.
The suspension order was issued on Friday through an official letter signed by Habibur Rahman, Deputy Police Commissioner (Headquarters and Administration) of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.
The suspended personnel are Sub-Inspectors (SIs) Masud Rana, Alam Badsha and Aktarul Islam; Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) Monirul Islam, Ariful Islam and Meherunnesa; and Constables Mushfiqur Rahman, Mukhlesur Rahman, Rakib Ahmed, Lima Soren and Bhabna Rani.
According to the order, a three-member investigation committee was formed to probe allegations surrounding an “unfortunate incident” that occurred at Kotwali Police Station on June 3.
The investigation report found preliminary evidence of deliberate negligence in duty, inefficiency, unprofessional conduct and misconduct by several police personnel in connection with an incident involving Rakibuzzaman Rakib, Sirajum Munira Moufi and Ruman Babu.
As the allegations were found to be prima facie true, the 11 police personnel were suspended in accordance with departmental rules.
Earlier, six police personnel, including then Officer-in-Charge (OC) Azad Rahman, were withdrawn from Kotwali Police Station and was later transferred to Khulna Range.
According to the victim and eyewitnesses, a general diary (GD) had been filed by family members of a missing couple from the city's CEO Bazar area before Eid. After the couple was recovered, they were brought to Kotwali Police Station on June 3.
Several leaders of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal along with Rakibul Islam Rakib went to the police station at the request of the couple’s families to help settle the matter.
Upon arriving at the station, Rakib allegedly saw the couple had been severely beaten by police personnel. When he protested, OC Azad Rahman and several police personnel allegedly assaulted him, leaving him injured and bleeding.
As news of the incident spread, leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies gathered near the police station.
Later that night, around 11pm, the couple was released from the police station, while injured Rakib was admitted to a hospital.
Mohammad Abdul Mabud, RpMP Commissioner, said the metropolitan police follow a “zero-tolerance” policy against negligence, misconduct or any unlawful activities by police personnel.