Village police caught selling stolen goat at Faridpur haat, beaten by crowd
A village police member in Alfadanga, Faridpur, has been accused of stealing a goat. He was caught by the owner while trying to sell the stolen goat at a haat (market); a relative who was with him was also detained by local people. The goat was later recovered and returned to its owner through the mediation of the haat authorities.
The accused village police member is Anichur Rahman (28). He is the son of Nannu Molla of Koturakandi village in Alfadanga upazila and serves as the village police in charge of Ward No. 4 of Buraich Union.
According to the account, at around 12:45pm on 13 November, a castrated goat was stolen from beside the homestead of Ramzan Molla, son of Asad Molla, in the Buraich Paschimpara area. The goat's estimated market value is about 15,000 taka.
After the theft, Ramzan Molla began searching in various places. At one point he went to the Bhatiapara haat in Kashiani upazila of neighbouring Gopalganj and spotted his own goat there. Village police Anichur Rahman and his cousin Alamin Molla (25) were trying to sell it.
With the help of the haat authorities, Ramzan Molla stopped the sale. Angered, the people present beat Anichur and Alamin. The goat was later recovered through the haat authorities' mediation and returned to its real owner, Ramzan Molla.
Victim Md Ramzan Molla has filed a written complaint at Alfadanga police station naming two people, including accused Anichur Rahman and his cousin.
Anichur Rahman, however, has denied involvement in the goat theft. He claimed: 'My cousin Alamin was owed money by Ramzan. As the money was not paid, he took the goat and wanted to sell it. I only went along with my cousin.'
Alfadanga police station's officer-in-charge (OC) Md Sohel Sarwar said: 'A written complaint has been received over this incident. No one is above the law. The matter is being looked into with utmost importance and legal action will be taken subject to investigation.'
Alfadanga Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Jobayer Habib said the matter was not known to him. Necessary action would be taken after making inquiries, he said.
