Police trump RAB in crossfire deaths: Ain O Salish Kendra

The Rapid Action Battalion had lent currency to the term ‘crossfire’ in Bangladesh soon after its formation over a decade ago, but police seem to have surpassed the elite force in killing ‘suspects’.

Data compiled by Ain O Salish Kendra suggests 79 people were killed in so-called shootouts while in police custody in the first six months this year. 

The police were involved in 37 of these deaths. Of them, seven had been in killed in ‘crossfire’ with Detective Branch (DB) officials. 

RAB crossfire incidents killed 24, one person died in BGB firing, while five died in police firing. 

Five have died due to police ‘torture’ and another in the hands of the DB.  

The report by the rights group also said four died in police stations ‘after falling ill’ and another person died of ‘mysterious causes.’ 

Ain O Salish Kendra said its report was based on news appearing in national newspapers. 

Human rights bodies have been vocal against crossfire deaths ever since RAB’s formation in 2003. 

Several suspected militants were killed in such ‘shootouts’ with law enforcers amid a spate of targeted killings by terrorists that led to a week-long police crackdown.  

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal condoned such police action but Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon disapproved. 

“We’re seeing militants dying in crossfires everyday. This is not the solution. This only shows how weak our law enforcers are.” 

The Ain O Salish Kendra report says a group of 50 was detained by officials in plainclothes. Six of their bodies were later found, two were returned, and four were shown arrested while the others are still unaccounted for. 

In the first six months, 42 have died in prison, 14 among them were convicts, and 28 were being detained.

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) have shot dead 12 and injured 17 people in border areas. Eighteen had been abducted, but the BGB mediated the return of 17. 

The report also contained data on fatalities from child abuse, political conflict, attacks on minorities, harassment of journalists, border tension, jail deaths, rape, and domestic violence.