Build resistance, don't take law into own hands: DMP commissioner

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali has urged Dhaka residents to build resistance against various crimes, including mugging, in the capital by handing the culprits over to the law enforcement. 

After inspecting the ongoing special operations aimed at strengthening public safety in the capital's Bijoy Sarani yesterday, he, however, advised them not to take law into their own hands.

"Now, if an incident happens, it goes viral within five minutes. In the past, when an incident occurred, 10 people would step forward to try to resist. But now, people are busy recording videos on their phones. So, I request everyone to come forward, build resistance, and help out if someone is in trouble. To keep our society free from crime, everyone must contribute," said the DMP chief. 

He also expressed optimism that a positive update regarding the recent incident of a gold trader being shot and robbed in Banasree would be provided by Wednesday (26 February).

In response to a question regarding the incident of two men, suspected to be muggers, being beaten and hung upside down from a foot overbridge in Uttara by an angry crowd yesterday, the DMP chief said, "I am in no way encouraging Dhaka residents to take law into their own hands.

"I am saying that everyone should join together to build resistance and hand the criminals over to the law enforcement agencies. Do not take law into your own hands."

Uttara police said last night those two men were allegedly caught red-handed by a group of people and beaten. The agitated crowd then hung both of them from the roof of the overbridge. 

Due to the recent spike in criminal activities, joint forces have launched a widespread campaign, the DMP chief said adding that all forces including Army, Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and others are conducting operations to curtail crimes. 

He also mentioned that block raids were conducted in Mohammadpur and Adabar areas. "We will continue these raids in the future."

"Previously through 'Operation Devil Hunt' we have already arrested several criminals and handed them over to court," he added. 

The commissioner also emphasised that they are conducting operations based on a list of identified criminals. 

"There is no room for misunderstanding. We are not arresting just anyone. We are focusing on identified muggers. To apprehend them, we are conducting 65 checkpoints in Dhaka with the help of the Bangladesh Army," he said.

"Among various crimes, snatching is the easiest in Dhaka city. A group of two to three people can snatch something with a machete in alleyways. However, there haven't been many incidents of robbery or theft because drug addicts often commit snatching alone. As a result, most criminals are now involved in snatching. The situation has worsened a bit in the last two or three days, but prior to that, the number of snatching incidents had decreased over the past month."