Three arrested in Nikli, including expelled Chhatra Dal leader, over attempt to snatch detainee from police

Police have arrested three people, including expelled Chhatra Dal leader Siam Hasan Akshay, in a case filed over an attack on police during an attempt to snatch a detainee in a drugs case in Nikli, Kishoreganj.

The other two arrested are Md Shah Rukh (27), son of Ferdous Mia of Pukurpar village in Nikli Sadar, and Md Himel (27), son of Mia Hossain of the same village.

Siam Hasan Akshay is the son of Bahar Uddin Bachchu of Khalisahati village. He was a joint convenor of Nikli upazila Chhatra Dal and was expelled on charges of breaching discipline during the last national parliamentary election.

Akshay was arrested early on Tuesday (3 November) from his father-in-law's house at Bara Talabpar village in Nikli Sadar. Shah Rukh and Himel were arrested from their own homes, police said.

Local residents allege that a gang of more than a hundred teenagers is active in the area under Akshay's leadership, and that members of the gang are accused of involvement in various crimes.

According to police and local sources, at around 10pm last Sunday police raided the T&T Mor area of Nikli Sadar and detained a young man named Shakil (22) with six yaba tablets and Tk 3,000 in cash from yaba sales.

Hearing the news, Akshay and his associates went to the scene and surrounded the police members. At one stage they pushed the police and tried to snatch the detained Shakil away.

Over the incident, Nikli police sub-inspector (SI) Tushar filed a case at the police station naming six people including Akshay and accusing another 10 to 15 unidentified people.

Nikli police station officer-in-charge (OC) Ishtiaq Ahmed said police would follow a zero-tolerance policy in preventing drugs, eve-teasing and mugging. Efforts were under way to arrest the other accused involved in the incident, he said.