Tea vendor sues 4 law enforcers over 'extortion'

A tea vendor yesterday filed a case against four members of law enforcement agencies for allegedly vandalising her tea stall as she refused to pay “extortion money”.

Maksuda Begum, 47, owner of the tea stall located in Baridhara (J block) area, filed the case with a metropolitan magistrate's court against a sub-inspector and two constables of Bhatara Police Station, and an Ansar member.

Two of the accused were identified as SI Hasan Masud and constable Jakir, while identities of two others could not be known immediately.

According to the case statement, the SI along with the three others asked her for Tk 10,000 on May 30. As she refused to give the money, they vandalised her shop, it said.

Contacted, Hasan Masud said he is informed about the matter, and that Maksuda is lying.

"We asked her to move the tea stall as it was set up occupying a portion of the road. As she didn't not comply, we removed her shop," he said.

The court directed Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Detective Branch (DB) of police (North) to investigate the matter and submit a report within a month.