No innocent person can be harassed by filing a case: IGP

Inspector General of Bangladesh Police (IGP) Baharul Alam has said that no innocent person can be harassed by filing a case. He said, ‘Police officers at all levels have been instructed to properly investigate the cases filed after August 5. No innocent person can be harassed.’

He said this at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy on Monday afternoon.

The IGP said, ‘After August 5, a group is accusing numerous innocent people in cases along with the main accused for the purpose of harassment. This matter is under our attention.’

The police officer said that a warrant of arrest will be sought against only those against whom responsibility is found during the investigation. Action will be taken to arrest them.

Stating that there are legal limitations to prevent false cases, he said, ‘These false cases are being told, the case is false, the case is true. But we cannot stop this increase in the number of accused. We have this limitation in the law."

He said that if someone complains, it has to be filed as a case with the police. There is no opportunity to verify whether the case is true or false.

'I have to take the complaint that they give me as a case. Then I go to the investigation and see how much is true and how much is false. I take out only the true part in the investigation and send it to the court.' He said.

He said, 'After August 5, what has been seen is that many people have committed crimes with malicious intentions to extort money from people, to harass, to intimidate. Maybe five or ten people have committed the crime, but there have been cases filed with the names of three hundred more people. There was one yesterday too.'

When asked by journalists how many police officers ordered shooting during the July uprising, he said that the matter cannot be said until the entire investigation process is complete.

When asked what kind of action will be taken against those who are filing false cases, he said that only after the investigation is completed, false cases can be filed against the plaintiff.