ASI closed for 'abduction'

An assistant sub-inspector of Barisal Metropolitan Police has been closed allegedly for abducting a local ruling party leader for ransom.

ASI Habibur Rahman of Kotwali Police Station was closed at Barisal police lines on Monday night after Azam Khan, member of the convening committee of Muladi upazila Jubo League, accused Habibur, Sub-Inspector Samiran and their associates of abducting him and realising Tk 69,000 in ransom.

Azam told reporters on Monday evening that he came to appear before a court in Barisal town on Wednesday in a robbery case. As he came out of the court compound at 11:50am, Habib, Samiran and their associates abducted him and took him to Miar Hotel.

"They branded me an illegal arms trader, slapped me, searched my whole body and took away Tk 18,000 I had with me."

As the police officials threatened to frame him in an arms case, he had Tk 51,000 more sent to them through mobile money transfer, Azam claimed.

After getting the money, the policemen released him around 3:30pm, he added.

On Sunday, Azam submitted a complaint to the BMP.

ASI Habib has been closed from Monday night, pending a departmental investigation, said Deputy Commissioner Golam Rouf of the BMP.

Habib could not be reached on his phone for comments and Samiran denied the allegation of his involvement in this.