Five police injured rescuing auto driver in Lalmonirhat, Sramik Dal leader held

Five police personnel were injured in Lalmonirhat while rescuing an auto-rickshaw driver from a group of snatchers. Police have arrested a Sramik Dal leader in connection with the incident.

The incident took place on Monday night (9 November) in the Ambarhi area of Barabari union in Sadar upazila. The injured police personnel received primary treatment at Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital.

The arrested man is Rafiqul Islam Apu (35), son of the late Shawkat Ali of Sadeknagar village in Barabari union of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila. He is the organising secretary of the union Sramik Dal.

Police and locals said auto-rickshaw driver Ershadul Haque was travelling from Kulaghat Bazar towards Barabari. On the way, four men boarded the auto-rickshaw posing as passengers at Tiktikir Bazar.

When they reached the Purba Ambarhi area of Barabari union, the four men identified themselves as members of the Alokito Lalmonirhat Action Committee, claimed drugs were being carried in the auto-rickshaw and said they would search it. When the driver protested, they beat him severely and tried to flee with the easybike.

Hearing the driver's screams, local people rushed in and caught Sramik Dal leader Rafiqul Islam Apu. The other three fled. Locals then called the national emergency service 999, and a mobile team from Lalmonirhat Sadar police station reached the spot and took the arrested man into custody.

While the arrested Sramik Dal leader was being taken to the police station, several people supporting him stopped the police vehicle in the Purba Ambarhi area. They obstructed the police from taking the arrested man to the station and proposed settling the matter locally. When the police refused, they attacked the police and tried to snatch the arrested man away. Five police personnel were injured in the attack, and the police vehicle was also damaged.

The injured police personnel are Sub-Inspector (SI) Emran Ali (43), Constables Mamun (32), Liton (39) and Shahnaz Akter (37), and Nayek Anwar Hossain (38) of Lalmonirhat Sadar police station.

Later, with the help of local public representatives and respected persons, the police returned to the station with the arrested man. The injured police personnel received primary treatment at Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital.

Alep Uddin, president of Barabari union Sramik Dal, said he had heard that Apu and others stopped the auto-rickshaw claiming it carried drugs and searched it. But when no drugs were found, a commotion broke out and the police came and arrested him. He said organisational action would be taken against the arrested organising secretary Rafiqul Islam Apu, but Apu is not a member of Alokito Lalmonirhat.

Saad Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Lalmonirhat Sadar police station, said a man was caught by local people over a fight between two sides and handed over to the police. On the way back, police had an argument with a few people. Five police personnel were slightly injured and given primary treatment. Legal action will be taken over the obstruction of government work.