"We have asked the inspector general of police (IGP) to help the intelligence agencies monitor police activities and pinpoint their criminal involvement," a top official of the ministry told The Daily Star yesterday.

The ministry also ordered a probe into all criminal incidents involving police and action against the guilty, the official said seeking anonymity.

The officers-in-charge (OCs) and other high officials have been asked to keep a close watch on their forces following the deaths of three people in police custody in Khilgaon and Gulshan and mugging of Tk 2 lakh by four policemen of Khilgaon Police Station recently.

In recent times, some law enforcers have been found involved in blackmailing. They frame innocent people and force them to pay money to avoid jail or police torture.

In Dhaka Metropolitan area, 20 written complaints were lodged against policemen in the last one year, but no action was taken against anyone.

During the same period, 2,845 complaints against police were lodged with the security cell of the police headquarters. After primary investigations, 63 sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors and constables were forced to retire, 425 policemen suspended, 920 closed and 412 given minor punishment.

Khilgaon police officials recently came under fire after the death of a young man, Shakil Ahmed Chowdhury Sumon of Meradia, in police custody. He was arrested on his way home on the night of October 24 and OC Entejar Rahman and second officer Mahbubur Rahman reportedly demanded Tk 1 lakh from his parents in return for his release. Later, he was allegedly tortured to death as his parents failed to pay up the money.

OC Entejar was withdrawn on October 27 and Sumon's mother Nurjahan Begum filed a murder case against him and the second officer.

While locals were agitating against Khilgaon police, SI Shamsul Haq, SI Shajahan Sabuj, constables Azhar Hossain, Helal Uddin and Habib of Khilgaon Police Station, ansars Azad Hossain and police informant Delwar mugged Tk 2 lakh from two garment by-product businessmen of Keraniganj Friday.

Minutes after the mugging, locals caught SI Shamsul Haq, constables Azhar Hossain and Helal Uddin and ansars Azad Hossain and recovered Tk 1.46 lakh from them. The court sent the four to Dhaka Central Jail. The rest three are on the run.

Many businessmen alleged regular police harassment and extortion, saying they dare not file any complaint fearing further police harassment.

Following the allegations, the authorities transferred all 77 staff of Khilgaon Police Station en-masse excepting the newly appointed OC.

Allegations also run high that policemen in connivance with their sources pick up the innocent and threaten to implicate them in robbery and other cases if they do not give them money.

Gulshan police allegedly tortured two young men to death on October 25 and 26.

Police claimed Sahibul Islam Saiful, 27, of North Badda and Ripon, an alleged mugger, were hurt in mob beating and died from injuries. However, the victims' relatives alleged that the two died from police torture.

Investigation by a human rights organisation also found that the two died from police torture.

A few months back, top officials of Rapid Action Team (Rat) caught in action an assistant commissioner of the same agency while he was taking bribe from a man at Mouchak. The Rat members also caught three sergeants who were taking money by stopping buses in the city.