Serve in a way that does not make people think it a police state, HC tells Kushtia SP
After the hearing, the HC also asked the SP SM Tanvir Arafat to ensure security of presiding officer Md Shahjahan Ali, local journalists and their family members
Pointing to Superintendent of Kushtia Police, the High Court on Monday directed to police for serving for people in such way that they could not think it is a police state.
The court came up with the direction during a hearing on the misconduct of Kushtia SP with on-duty senior judicial magistrate during the Bheramara municipal election on 16 January.
After the hearing, the HC also asked the SP SM Tanvir Arafat to ensure security of presiding officer Md Shahjahan Ali, local journalists and their family members.
Earlier on Sunday, the SP offered unconditional apology appearing before the High Court over his misconduct with a senior judicial magistrate.
Later, the HC asked Tanvir to appear before it today to explain the matter.
As per the order, he appeared with his explanation before the bench of Justice Mamunur Rahman and Justice Khizir Hayat Khan.
Addressing the SP, the court said that "Work keeping it in mind that people should not think it as a police state. You have to be adept in work, not only in words. You will give security to the people. No one should feel insecure to the police.
Police have to be friends with the people. It is not the responsibility of the police to consider anyone's political ideology. Society must be taken to a peaceful position. The rule of law, the judiciary alone does not get perfection. All organs of the state must work together."
Later, the court fixed 17 February for next hearing on this regard.
According to media reports, Judicial Magistrate Mohsin went to the polling centre at Bheramara Pilot Model High School after receiving complaints of vote fraud.
Mohsin was talking to the presiding officer when SP Arafat, ASP Mostafizur Rahman, and several other policemen went to the polling centre. They loudly called the presiding officer aside.
Mohsin then introduced himself and requested them to let him speak with the presiding officer first.
SP Arafat then called the magistrate impolite and asked him to leave the centre, according to the reports.
The incident took place during the Bheramara municipal election on 16 January.
The Senior Judicial Magistrate lodged a complaint with the Election Commission the next day.
On 21 January, the High Court asked Tanvir to appear before it on 25 January to explain the matter.