THE Guyana Police Force on Thursday confirmed that two ranks from the West Demerara police district were placed under close arrest following reports of police brutality meted out to Sunil Lall of La Parfaite Harmonie, WBD on Sunday night.

Under close arrest are a constable and a sergeant after a case of police brutality was reported by another section of the media, in addition to an allegation of extortion.
The police in a release on Thursday said the matter is also being investigated by the Police Office of Professional Responsibility which investigates wrong-doings and misconduct by serving ranks of the Guyana Police Force.
Statements have already been taken from the virtual complainant who is also a contractor and father of five children. In addition, the two police ranks at the centre of the investigations and those who were on a mobile patrol when Lall was arrested were also required to give statements in the ongoing investigation.
The two arrested ranks were responsible for the mobile patrol and the station at the time the incident occurred.
A press release had stated that acting Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud recently instructed Commanders of all Divisions to put systems in place to ensure that incidents of police brutality do not occur. It was noted also that such cases bring the police force into disrepute.
This latest incident has brought the number of recent cases being investigated by the Police Office of Professional Responsibility to three, all pointing to misconduct and a deviation from the standard operating procedures.
Three police ranks including an Inspector and a Corporal are reported to have assaulted a constable on the job after the rank objected to the inspector addressing him with the use of expletives. The inspector reportedly tore down the constable’s jersey and caused him to be assaulted by two other ranks and placed in the Prashad Nagar lockups.
Meanwhile, on Saturday last a police constable and another rank, in the presence of several other ranks made disrespectful comments while questioning Guyana Chronicle reporter Leroy Smith who was on official duty in the Police Headquarters compound.
Smith filed a formal complaint with the Commissioner of Police and several senior officers following which there was a meeting between the accused ranks and the reporter. That matter is also engaging the attention of the Police Office of Professional Responsibility.