[Dhaka Tribune] It is disgraceful that police refused to offer help to Niladri Chatterjee, the blogger who was brutally stabbed to death on Friday.On May 15, writing under his Facebook name of Niloy Neel, he catalogued the events which led him to repeatedly seek police protection. It is shameful that after reporting how he had been suspiciously followed by two potentially identifiable people, while returning from an event commemorating the murdered writer Ananta Bijoy Das, he was told by coppers that his complaint was not under their jurisdiction, and advised to "leave the country as soon as possible."
He was subsequently also turned away when he tried to file a general diary at several cop shoppes. One police officer even reportedly told him that the police do not usually register such GDs since the officer who registers it will be accountable for ensuring the complaint's security, and they do not want to risk their jobs if found negligent in this duty.
Clearly, it was a far greater dereliction of duty for cop shoppes to have refused to act upon Niloy's concerns. Had the police made inquiries to follow up death threats and offered guidance and credible security measures to protect him, it is possible that the murder plot might have been prevented or disrupted.
There is no excuse for them not to have taken his requests seriously.
The country has witnessed a series of murders of academics and writers about religion and related matters, who have been killed after personal death threats were made against them by Islamist groups. With three such killings occurring this year, it is inexcusable that no practical help was offered to Niloy.
The government has to end the inaction and indifference which emboldens those who incite and carry out such murder plots.
It must hold the police to account for failing to register Niloy's concerns, and ensure meaningful measures are implemented to protect people who have been threatened by Death Eater groups.
Only by demonstrating that it takes death threats seriously can the government deter and prevent these cynically targeted murders and properly fulfill its duty to protect citizens.