Cops’ toll feast ahead of Eid
With Eid-ul-Azha approaching nearer, a section of law enforcers have become desperate to collect illegal tolls from innocent people in the capital and on its outskirts.
Sources alleged that some policemen have recently extorted money from innocent people in different areas of the capital using threats to implicate them in false cases.
Several city residents said that they feel panicked while crossing some areas in the capital as they have seen unscrupulous law enforcers collecting tolls from people in the name of search.
Some policemen in Sayedabad, Maniknagar, Golapbagh Bishwa Road, Kazla, Shanirakhra, Rayerbagh under Jatrabari Police Station, Mirpur and Mirhajirbagh are involved in such unlawful acts, they alleged.
They also said many people fall victim to extortion by the law enforcers every day.
Some sub-inspectors of the police stations with the assistance of constables have long been carrying out such unlawful acts in the areas, they alleged.
Drivers and passengers of rickshaws, taxicabs and CNG-run auto-rickshaws are their main target, local people said.
In most cases, unscrupulous policemen on various pleas stop vehicles, especially taxicabs, auto-rickshaws and rickshaws, search passengers and pick them up, they alleged.
There are allegations that the law enforcers take their victims to custody if they fail to pay money, and free them only after taking money from their families, sources said.
Collection of tolls by law enforcers is a regular phenomenon in the area, said Sattar, owner of a saloon at Golapbagh Biswa road.
Begum, who runs a roadside tea stall nearby, said that a patrol police team from Jatrabari Police Station takes position in front of Monwara Hospital or Raj Furniture at Golapbagh Biswa Road at noon everyday and extorts money from drivers and passengers of rickshaws and auto-rickshaws.
Hossain, a shopkeeper, alleged that police sergeants are also responsible for creating a traffic congestion on Sayedabad-Jatrabari and Sayedabad-Badda roads as they realise tolls after stopping buses and trucks on the busy roads.
Tushar, a BBA student of Asian University, alleged that a patrol police team picked him up when he was walking down the road at Uttara in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
The police team threatened to implicate him in a drug case and released him later in exchange for Tk 8000, the victim said.
On September 5, Darus Salam police team picked up a youth, Sohel, after he got down from a passenger bus that came to Dhaka from Sirajganj.
Later, the police team demanded Tk 5000 in exchange for his freedom. As he refused to pay, they threatened to implicate him in a case. Finally, he was released in exchange for Tk 3,000, Sohel alleged.
On September 7, Mirpur police arrested a private service holder, Tuhin, from the capital’s Mirpur sector-2 area. Soon, the police team led by a sub-inspector demanded Tk 10,000 for his release.
Finally, he was produced before the court in a drug case. The court sent him to jail, Tuhin said.
When contacted, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah said he is not aware of such acts of the policemen.
If any policeman is found guilty in this connection, stern action would be taken against them, he added. (Daily sun)
