Police members beaten during anti-drug drive in Narayanganj

Two members of the railway police were assaulted during an anti-drug operation in Narayanganj’s Golachipa rail line area on Sunday afternoon (15 March).

Narayanganj Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Halim said Sub-Inspector Mizan and Constable Arif detained two suspected drug dealers during the drive. However, associates of the detainees allegedly attacked the officers and freed them.

“Legal action will be taken over the incident,” the OC said.

Dhaka Railway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zainal Abedin also confirmed that SI Mizan was assaulted while conducting the operation.

“We are looking into the matter and will take necessary steps after reviewing the details,” he said.

Police said the injured SI is currently receiving treatment at Narayanganj 300-bed Hospital.

Witnesses said police were taking two men in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw from the Golachipa rail line area when the detainees started scuffling with the officers. Hearing their cries for help, locals gathered at the scene.

A group of locals reportedly forced the men out of the vehicle and took them to a nearby business establishment, where a heated argument broke out. At one stage, the crowd surrounded the officers and accused them of being “fake police” before physically assaulting them.

SI Mizan and Constable Arif were injured in the attack and managed to escape from the scene.

Meanwhile, the two men involved in the incident – Hafizur Rahman, 33, and Ramzan, 32 – claimed that police detained them without reason, handcuffed them and tried to force them into a vehicle.

They also alleged that the police officials took their money and mobile phones during the incident.

Hafizur and Ramzan said they work at a dyeing factory named Prime in the Killarpul area of the city.

Attempts to reach the injured SI Mizan by phone were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, locals alleged that the police officer and another man, believed to be a police informant, tried to detain the two youths on false allegations of drug involvement and attempted to force them into a vehicle, reports UNB.

A video that circulated on social media shows several youths beating a uniformed police officer and another man wearing a T-shirt.

In the video, a youth identifying himself as Ramzan, a factory worker, claims he and an acquaintance were stopped and searched by the officer and his informant while they were on their way to shop for Eid.