Traffic cops withdrawn for assaulting bank official

A sergeant and a constable of Gazipur traffic police were withdrawn yesterday, after they beat up a bank official in Tongi upazila in the district.

Sergeant Mohammad Firoz and Constable Shyamol Dutta have been closed to the Gazipur Police Lines following the incident, said police officials.

Saleh Uddin Ahmed, assistant superintendent of police of Gazipur traffic division, said they took disciplinary action against the duo after primarily finding the allegation true.

The victim, Mohammad Amir Hossain, 45, is an employee of Sonali Bank's National University Branch and a resident of Shataish Bank Para area in Tongi.

Amir said he was going to his workplace in a rickshaw around 9:00am. Sergeant Firoz and constable Shyamol stopped the rickshaw when he reached Shataish intersection to prevent it from plying the wrong side, he said.

The traffic police duo had a brief altercation with the rickshaw-puller over the matter, he added. Amir wanted to pay the rickshaw fare and get down. He requested the policemen to remove the rickshaw from there.

Following this, Firoz and Shyamol started verbally and physically abusing him.

Later, locals rushed there and protested the incident.

“They mercilessly hit me with sticks,” Amir said, alleging that he got injured in hands while his clothes were also torn.

Sub-inspector Mosharraf Hossain of Tongi Police Station said after getting information, he reached the spot and rescued Firoz and Shyamol who were confined by the locals.

The two, along with Amir, were later taken to Tongi Police Station, said the SI.

ASP Saleh Uddin claimed Amir's relatives reached the spot and injured the police duo during the incident. However, Sergeant Firoz and Constable Shyamol behaved irresponsibly, he said. As a result, they were closed to the Police Lines.