Brawl in Barisal VIP Lounge: Case filed over assault on cops
Barisal police filed a case on Sunday in connection with assault and attempted murder after they were at the receiving end of muscle power exercised allegedly by a ruling-party leader's men at the city's launch terminal on Saturday.
Two high-ranking police officials accompanied by other cops went to the terminal to see off two top government officials on that day. The incident happened at a VIP lounge in the terminal.
The accused men, one of whom had a gun, claimed to be involved in the security of a Dhaka City Awami League leader. They beat up three policemen, attempted to open fire and abduct a senior assistant commissioner of police, and tried to take away a camera from a constable, according to a case filed by a sub-inspector of Barisal Kotwali Police Station on Sunday.
Interestingly, police in the case accused 20-25 unnamed people and named only one, Saikat Imran, raising questions that police are refusing to answer officially.
The case fails to name the person with the gun and the AL leader who allegedly had a heated exchange of words with police.
Witnesses and sources, however, said the AL leader was Shahe Alam Murad, general secretary of Dhaka City (south) AL unit. More than 200 people came to the launch terminal to see him off that day, they said.
Murad could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts. His phone was found switched off.
Nizam Mahmud Fakir, sub-inspector of the police station, filed the case for assault, attempted murder, and obstructing government employees discharging their duties.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Shafiqul Islam of Barisal Range and Barisal Metropolitan Police Commissioner (acting) Mahfuzur Rahman, arrived at the VIP lounge of a Dhaka-bound launch to see off Faiz Ahmed, secretary to public administration ministry, and Sajjadul Hassan, acting secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, according to the case.
But the police high officials saw a huge gathering inside the lounge and there was middle aged man, clad in a panjabi and wearing a topi, sitting on a sofa with a firearm.
The BMP commissioner and the DIG asked people, except travellers, to vacate the lounge after informing them that two government high officials would be arriving at the lounge.
Senior Assistant Commissioner Jahidul Islam then requested the man to show the licence for his firearm considering the security of the two secretaries, said the case statement.
The man refused to show the licence or disclose his identity and Constable Hasib, a security detail of the BMP commissioner, requested him to leave the lounge.
Right at that moment, a man identifying himself as Saikat Imran, aged around 38, got into an altercation with the constable. At one stage, Saikat and the man along with their cohorts started beating up Hasib.
"As Senior Assistant Commissioner Jahidul Islam tried to calm the situation, they all swopped on Jahidul and beat up both of them [Jahidul and Hasib] indiscriminately, leaving them bruised," said the case statement.
At one stage, the man with the gun attempted to shoot Jahidul and Hasib, the case statement said, adding that he even tried to take Jahidul away.
Constable Obayed was trying to take photographs of the incident but the same people beat him up and tried to snatch his camera.
The BMP commissioner called in reinforcements but when they arrived the gun wielding man, Saikat and their cohorts left the lounge.
In the meantime, the secretaries were unable to reach the lounge. "We escorted them to the VIP lounge," said the case document.
No one has been arrested and the investigation is going on, said Sub-Inspector Mohiuddin Mahi, investigation officer of the case.
Contacted, BMP acting commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman yesterday told The Daily Star, "I stand by the case which is now under investigation.” Since Barisal City Corporation election is under two weeks away, disclosing all the information right now would not be proper, he said.
He said there were reports by some media outlets which were not true and they had sent rejoinders.
Moazzam Hossain Alal, joint convener of the BNP, at a press conference at Barisal Sahid Abdur Rob Serniabat Press Club, demanded judicial enquiry into the incident. He said, "How could the election be held in Barisal in free and fair manner when the police commissioner is assaulted?"
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