Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses its grave concern and strongly condemns the assault of a judge by the police at the court premises of the Narsingdi District and Sessions Judge.

Different media reported that on June 10, 2012 additional police force was deployed in the court premises of Narsingdi district as an enhanced security measure for appearance of the accused of the sensational murder case of former Municipality Mayor Lokman Hossain. It has also been reported that at that time the Judge of the 2nd Court of Joint District and Sessions Judge, Narsingdi, introduced himself as a judge as the police wanted to check his bag while entering the count premises in a rickshaw. As the police asked him to show his identity card and as he was taking it out, another police officer attacked him with a helmet. Besides, two more police officers came forward and joined him, and then all three started giving blows and beating the judge with sticks. We strongly condemn such attack on a judge by the police. The assault of journalists, teachers, lawyers, clients etc. by police has been increasing in the recent times. We are really annoyed at such arrogant attitude of the police. We believe that such aggressive and intolerant attitude of the police is not a good sign for a democratic country. We are informed that the authority formed a committee to investigate the matter and the accused have been primarily withdrawn to police line.

We expect that the authority will take proper steps to discourage the members of law enforcement agencies from such attitude by taking stern action against the perpetrators upon due investigation.