A police constable from the telecommunications unit has been arrested in Chattogram on charges of leaking a confidential message instructing officers to open fire on armed individuals at sight.
The accused, identified as constable Ami Das, was detained by Khulshi police on Sunday night.
Authorities confirmed that a case has been filed against him under the Official Secrets Act. He had been serving at the Khulshi Police Station.
The leaked audio-visual clip, lasting three minutes and nine seconds, spread widely on social media.
In the video, a person is seen holding a wireless device while a voice– allegedly belonging to Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasib Aziz– directs police units to “shoot without hesitation” if any armed person appears in front of patrol teams.
The wireless message said: If anyone pulls out a weapon– be it a firearm or a sharp object– in front of any police patrol team, they must be shot immediately. There is no doubt about it. This has been conveyed to everyone. The shot should be to the head, chest, or stomach to ensure the proper use of government bullets.”
Police sources said the order was issued on the night of August 12, a day after a sub-inspector of Port Police Station was critically injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Awami League (activities of which are now banned) activists during a procession in Saltgola, Chattogram.
Following the incident, Commissioner Aziz reportedly issued the “shoot-on-sight” directive through the police wireless network.
The confidential instruction triggered a stir within the CMP after it was leaked online.
Senior police officials launched an internal investigation, which identified Constable Ami Das as the one responsible for recording and spreading the directive. He was subsequently arrested.
