IGP DENIES ALLEGATION OF POLITICAL MOTIVE BEHIND ANTI-CRIME DRIVE

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, June 7 (BSS) - Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad today categorically denied the allegation that the current special anti-crime drive throughout the country is politically motivated. "The allegation is baseless and untrue.... in some cases police are misunderstood but sweeping remarks are unacceptable," he told reporters when his attention was drawn to the comments of Human Rights Watch, a US-based watchdog, about the ongoing anti- crime special drive in Bangladesh. The IGP gave his observations on the sideline of inauguration of a website of Chittagong Range Police here. DIG of Chittagong range A K M Shahidul Haq and other senior police officials were at the function. Replying to the queries of reporters, Nur Mohammad said no single innocent person is being harassed on political ground during the drive and senior police officials are very cautiously monitoring the day-to-day developments in this regard. "Some of the arrested persons may have political identity but it should not be a ground to immune him from legal matters, because police are only arresting those who are involved in criminal activities or wanted by police in connection with previous cases," he said. "Since no one from the government or the police department has any personal agenda, there arises no question or logic of political harassment," the police chief said adding, the number of arrested persons during the current drive is a few under the Emergency Power Rules. The IGP also said that more logistics have been provided this time in view of the significance of current special drive to arrest the criminals in a coordinated manner. "The government has felt the necessity of launching such a special move only due to rise in some sorts of criminal activities in recent days," he said.