Motorcyclist assaults traffic cop in Rajshahi

A motorcyclist beat up a traffic sergeant with a piece of wood, fracturing the officer's bones, at Rajshahi city's Ghora Chattar checkpoint yesterday.

The sergeant, Sree Bipul Kishore Bhattachariya, was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital with his left elbow, right hand and left collarbone fractured among other injuries, said Golam Ruhul Kuddus, additional deputy commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP).

The incident took place around 12pm when the sergeant saw the motorcyclist riding his vehicle on the footpath and ran to catch the rider, leaving his teammates behind, the RMP spokesperson said.

After catching up to him, Kishore asked why he was driving on the footpath and requested him to show the vehicle's documents.

The motorcyclist began quarrelling with Kishore, and at one point, the rider picked up a piece of wood from a nearby shop and began beating him.

The motorcyclist then fled, leaving his vehicle behind, as other officers stationed at the checkpoint and locals approached the scene, said the police official.

Police rescued the sergeant with his dress stained with blood.

They seized the motorcycle and learnt that it belongs to one Belal Hossain, a herbal medicine trader from the city's Laxmipur Bhatapara area.

The injured identified Belal as his attacker after seeing the rider's photograph submitted with Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, police said.

Police were trying to arrest Belal. RMP's Commissioner Abu Kalam Siddique visited Kishore at the hospital.