Police body search before raid raises questions, authorities cite rules

A video of police personnel being body-searched before an anti-drug joint operation in Gangni upazila, Meherpur, has gone viral on social media, sparking widespread discussion. Police have said the search was conducted according to rules to ensure transparency .

The joint anti-drug raid was conducted at five locations in the border area of Kazipur Union in Gangni upazila on August 4. Before entering the houses of suspected drug traders, a journalist present at the scene was asked to search the police team members. The video later surfaced on social media.

Gangni Police Station Officer-in-Charge Muhaddid Morshed Chowdhury said the purpose of the body search was to ensure transparency, so that no one could later allege that police had planted evidence or tried to frame someone.

According to the Police Regulations of Bengal (PRB), Rule 280(D) stipulates that before commencing a search, the police officer conducting it, the witnesses present and the correspondent must be body-searched . The law also requires that the search be conducted in the presence of witnesses and the owner of the premises being searched.

Meherpur Superintendent of Police Uzzal Kumar Roy said the police personnel were searched in compliance with regulations to prevent any questions or doubts regarding the operation. He added that the district police remain firm in their anti-drug stance .

Police sources said the August 4 operation in Kazipur Union lasted about an hour across five locations. During the raid, approximately 5 kg of cannabis, 21 yaba tablets and an unregistered motorcycle were seized. Seven people, including women, were arrested.

The arrestees are: Shipon Hossain (45), son of Bazlur Rahman of Kazipur Borderpara in Gangni upazila; Tanzila Khatun (47), wife of Fazl Ali; Fazl Ali (65), son of Yad Ali; Rana Hossain (22), son of Dulal Hossain; Jahid Hossain (28), son of Taj Uddin of Natnapara village in Daulatpur upazila, Kushtia; Habibul Islam (36); and Shahin Alam (50).

Five separate cases have been filed under the Narcotics Control Act at Gangni Police Station. The arrestees were later sent to jail through the court.