Complaints against police piling up at IGP’s cell

Manipulation of cases, detention of people without any ground, intimidation, extortion, bribery and corruption in various forms are the most common allegations made against the police in numerous complaints filed at the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) Complaint Cell.

 “We have also been getting complaints about the police having physical relations with women over false promises of marriage, or cheating on newly-wed brides,” said Mukta Dhar, additional superintendent of police at the Police Headquarters.

The cell, which was set up in November 2017 to receive complaints against the police, has received a total of 3,493 complaints till August 21 this year.

However, the police headquarters has officially refused to give any information on how many allegations have been found to be true.

But, an additional superintendent of police at the headquarters told The Business Standard that around 1,000 low-ranking policemen had been found guilty of various misdeeds, and that departmental action has already been taken against them.

On conditions of anonymity, a private service holder in front of the headquarters told The Business Standard that Lokman Hossain, former officer-in charge (OC) of Lakshmipur Sadar Police Station, arrested his younger brother in a false case.

But they are too scared to lodge a complaint against Lokman because the OC might retaliate violently against them, said the man.

However, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Mir Sohel Rana disagreed with the comment made by the man by saying that no one, not even Lokman, would know about the lodging of the complainant.

“If the allegation against the police officer is found to be true, necessary steps will be taken against him immediately,” he added.

According to the media wing of the police headquarters’, after getting a complaint, the IGP himself examines and cross-checks them.

Then it is sent to the Discipline and Professional Standard (DPS) Department at the headquarters.

The DPS department assigns an officer or a team of officials to investigate the complaint, and the policeman in question is punished if the allegation is found to be true.

AIG Sohel Rana said that they resolved 310 complaints in the first seven months of this year, while 481 are still under investigation.

IGP’s Complaint Cell info

People can lodge complaints by calling from a cell phone or by sending an email to the complaint cell which remains open round the clock, according to the AIG.

The numbers are: 01769693535 and 01769693536 while the email address is complain@police.gov.bd.

Apart from the digital process, anyone can submit complaints at the front desk of the headquarters during office hours.