Five police personnel have now been sent to jail in connection with a gambling incident at an abandoned tin-shed building on the premises of the Thakurgaon Superintendent of Police’s office.
The latest arrest was that of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) constable Md Shahidul Islam, who had been on the run following the incident. He was arrested and produced before a court on Wednesday, which sent him to jail. His arrest brought the total number of police personnel detained in the case to five.
Thakurgaon Superintendent of Police Md Belal Hossain said the process of temporarily suspending all the arrested personnel under police disciplinary regulations was under way.
Speaking to reporters at his office at around 1pm on Wednesday, the SP said criminal proceedings and departmental action would be pursued separately against the accused personnel.
According to the police regulations cited by the SP, a police member arrested in connection with a criminal offence, or one who surrenders before a court, is subject to immediate temporary suspension. The same procedure is being applied to the five arrested personnel.
The SP said departmental cases would be initiated alongside the regular criminal investigation being conducted by the police station concerned. A separate investigating officer would be appointed to handle the departmental proceedings. However, he said the departmental process could not be formally concluded until the court delivers its final verdict in the criminal case.
The incident also left Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Jewel Rana injured during the operation. The SP said Rana suffered a fracture to a finger on his right hand following a physical altercation with fellow police personnel while the operation was being carried out.
Doctors have advised Rana to remain on medical rest because of the injury. With his hand bandaged, he is currently unable to perform his official duties and has therefore been granted leave, the SP said.
Police have also seized several pieces of evidence from the scene, including four motorcycles. Two of those motorcycles were reportedly found without registration. Several mobile phones were also seized, and investigators are examining their ownership and how they may have been used in connection with the case.
The seized vehicles, phones and other material are being treated as evidence in the criminal investigation. The SP said any decision to seek remand of the accused would rest entirely with the investigating officer, based on the requirements of the investigation.
The case has also placed the district police leadership in a difficult position, as those facing criminal proceedings are members of the same force. Speaking about the personal strain involved in taking action against his subordinates, SP Belal Hossain said he regarded every officer and member of his force like his own children.
He said the situation became particularly painful when the families of the accused came to him in tears. Despite that, he maintained that his professional responsibility was to ensure justice and apply the law impartially.
“If an ordinary citizen commits an offence, we arrest them. We cannot allow our own people to walk free simply because they belong to the police,” the SP said.
He also said the situation might have been dealt with as a relatively minor disciplinary matter had the police personnel followed instructions and complied with the operation. However, he said allegations that they obstructed the operation and injured a senior police officer elevated the matter to the level of a serious criminal offence.
As a result, the district police administration proceeded with legal action while also initiating the relevant departmental measures. The criminal investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the gambling incident, the role of each accused person and the evidentiary significance of the seized motorcycles, mobile phones and other materials.
