Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses deep concern over the incident of confinement of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel at Satkhira.

Over the past few days, we are observing that RAB is facing a lot of questions regarding its impartiality. Even the police have been questioning the authenticity of the investigation by RAB into the killing of Sub-Inspector Gautam Roy which created tension between the two law enforcing agencies.

Since the establishment of RAB in 2004, questions have been raised about its activities like ‘crossfire’, ‘encounter’, and ’shoot in self-defense’. People are also feeling uncertain about the mandate and accountability of the elite force. Though the enabling law defines the role of RAB to assist the Police in maintaining law and order situation, in most cases RAB is conducting operations by themselves, arresting and interrogating people and even conducting summary trials. Moreover, they are producing the arrested persons in front of the media before any competent court declares them convicted.

We came to know from newspaper reports that RAB has taken initiatives to launch a departmental investigation for the incident. But we fear that the probe may not be impartial if one of the parties involved conducts the investigation. We have heard of many such departmental investigations but we were never informed about the result and subsequent action against the responsible persons.