Locals vandalise police box protesting ‘assault on fruit seller’ in Ctg
Agitated locals of Karnaphuli upazila in Chattogram yesterday vandalised a police box, after a guava seller was allegedly beaten up by an officer of Detective Branch (DB).
Local sources said members of DB’s team-14 of port zone went to Maijjartek area to discharge their duties. Assistant Sub-Inspector Jahid of the team locked into an altercation there with the seller around 7pm while buying fruits.
The officers then beat up the seller, they said.
Md Ali, 40, was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for treatment, said police sources.
Meanwhile, locals blockaded the road near the spot protesting the incident, and after a rumour spread that the fruit seller had died due to the assault, they staged an agitation, throwing brickbats at a nearby traffic police box.
Assistant Commissioner of police (Karnaphuli zone) Jahidul Islam told this newspaper that law enforcers dispersed the crowd by using tear gas shells. The situation was brought under control by 9pm, he said.
Vehicular movement on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar road remained suspended for nearly an hour as a result of the blockade.
Deputy Commissioner (Port) of DB SM Mostain Hossain acknowledged that a scuffle took place in the area, but did not say anything regarding officers beating him up.
Md Ali was given primary treatment at CMCH, following which the police car that brought him took him away, sources at the hospital told this newspaper. They, however, could not say if he was released or taken into custody.
The fruit seller or his family could not be contacted.
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