Police will not rule out crossfire if government gives the go-ahead: IGP

The police would not hesitate to carry out extrajudicial killings, commonly referred to as “crossfire”, if the government authorised such action, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir has said.

He made the remarks on Monday (26 October) at the inauguration of the “Community Islamic Bank System” in Chawkbazar.

The IGP said police were necessary to ensure people could live in peace and harmony. “Having freedom does not mean you can do whatever you want,” he said.

Urging people not to take the law into their own hands, he also said it was unfair to blame the police for every problem.

The IGP also raised concerns about the spread of drugs in neighbourhoods and allegations that some police personnel, alongside members of the Awami League, were involved in the drug trade.

He said 27 police personnel had been suspended over the past two months.