New York Mayor Mamdani’s ‘vague explanation’ for shooting of Bangladeshi man

Noman Sabit: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday once again put forward his proposed but vague idea of a ‘Department of Community Safety’ following the recent shooting of a mentally ill Bangladeshi youth in Queens by the New York Police Department (NYPD), but he failed to offer any clear explanation of how such a new agency would actually function in practice.

The cops’ chaotic confrontation with Bangladeshi  youth Jabez Chakraborty a schizophrenic 22-year-old whom NYPD officers shot and injured Jan. 26 after he allegedly waved a knife at them only highlighted the urgent need for a different mental health response system, Hizzoner argued.

“That is why I proposed creating a Department of Community Safety to build a mental health system rooted in prevention, and sustained care, and a real crisis response, so officers no longer have to handle these situations alone,” he said at a press conference announcing free tax prep for New Yorkers.

“While we have been developing this implementation plan I have told my administration to speed up this work.” “We called 911 for an ambulance to provide medical attention for our son, who was in emotional distress,” the family said in a statement posted online by Desis Rising Up and Moving, a South Asian immigrant advocacy group aligned with Mamdani.“We did not call the police.”

Police contended Chakraborty grabbed a large kitchen knife and threatened the cops, prompting them to open fire. He remained hospitalized Tuesday, as the NYPD said it would release body-camera footage from the cops involved in the incident.

Chaktraborty’s family also accused cops of confiscating their phones and demanding to know what country they were from a claim that Mamdani said was under investigation.

“In meeting with the family and visiting Javez at the hospital, and in viewing this footage, it is clear to me that what Javez needs is mental health treatment, not criminal prosecution from a district attorney,” he said. Source NY Post.

(*This report is produced by Bangla Press. Republishing our content, images, or broadcasts in any other media outlet without permission is strictly prohibited.)

BP/SM