Pickup Driven at Police Officer on Election Duty in Thakurgaon in Alleged Murder Attempt, Two Jailed

In Thakurgaon, a pickup van was allegedly driven at a police member in an attempt to kill him, after ignoring a traffic police signal while he was performing by-election duties. Immediately after the incident, police detained the pickup's driver and his assistant, and they were later sent to jail through the court.

The incident took place on Friday afternoon in the Bus Stand roundabout area under Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station. On Saturday, 24 October, the two accused were sent to jail through the Thakurgaon judicial court.

According to police and the case statement, members of Thakurgaon Sadar traffic police and Sadar Police Station were on vehicle requisition duty at the Bus Stand intersection for the upcoming by-election in the Thakurgaon-1 constituency. They were performing duties in the area surrounding the election at that time.

At around 5:30pm, a yellow pickup coming from the direction of Panchagarh was heading towards the town intersection. The pickup's number was Dhaka-Metro-Na-14-4012. On-duty traffic constable Abdus Salek signalled the vehicle to stop.

When the vehicle stopped, Constable Salek asked the driver to speak to Sergeant Shahajahan Ali with his documents. But the allegation says the driver and his assistant tried to flee quickly without showing any documents.

While fleeing, they allegedly turned the pickup to the right with the intention of killing Constable Salek, hit him hard and dragged him about 10 to 15 cubits — that is how the case statement describes it.

Hearing the constable's screams, fellow police members and local pedestrians chased and stopped the pickup. The injured constable is reported to have miraculously survived.

The two arrested are Mizanur Rahman, aged 38, and Raihan Alam, aged 23. Mizanur is from the Jagatha area of Ward No. 6 of Pirganj Municipality, and Raihan is from the Raghunathpur area of Ward No. 2 of the same municipality.

The case's investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Moniruzzaman of Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station, said a case has been filed under the relevant sections of the Penal Code, including assaulting a government employee on election duty, attempted murder and obstructing government work.

He also said the accused admitted the truth of the incident in primary interrogation. Opposing their bail in court, an application was made to send them to jail on the grounds that the investigation was not complete and that it might be disrupted if they were released on bail. Following that application, the court sent them to jail.

Such an attack on a police member on election duty has created a stir in the area. Attention will now be on the progress of the investigation and the court's next steps.