The Rapid Action Battalion-7 has framed Chattogram city Chhatra Dal leader Md Elias Khan in an arms case, family members alleged.

The 33-year-old is now behind bars in the case filed by Rab-7 with Akbar Shah Police Station.

Rab claimed to have arrested Elias with a double barrel pistol and two cartridges on CDA Road-1 around 9:00pm on November 26. However, witness accountscontradict the case statement.

Elias, a resident of Akbar Shah Biswa Colony residential area in the port city, was a former vice president of Chattogram City Chhatra Dal, said sources in the pro-BNP students' front. Cops said he faces 12 cases filed with Akbar Shah Police Station over carrying out subversive activities during the "BNP's countrywide violence" in 2015.

Interestingly, the place where the incident occurred is about 450 metres away from Akbar Shah Police Station. Elias used to sit in his cement-sand-iron supply shop named "E & I Traders" just in front of the police station.

Sub-Inspector Biswajit Chandra Debnath of Rab-7, filed the case on November 27. Family members, however, alleged that a local Rab informant in connivance with the SI implicated Elias in the false case.

According to the case statement, a Rab-7 team led by SI Biswajit was performing its duty in Akbar Shah area on the night of November 26. At one stage, the SI got information that a group of drug traders gathered in front of "Popular Crockeries" shop on CDA Road-1.

As the law enforcers reached the spot at 9:25pm, a man tried to flee but the Rab detained him. Based on Elias's confession, the Rab later recovered the firearm and cartridges in front of witnesses. The SI then prepared a seizure list on the spot and had it signed by witnesses.

The SI named two local people and Rab member ABM Siddiqur Rahman as witnesses.

Visiting the spot on December 5, this correspondent talked to locals and some witnesses. Locals said plainclothes men picked up Elias from a shop while he was hanging out with his friends and got him into a microbus. Later, he was taken to CDA Road-1 where he was arrested.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Peyar Hasan Palok, bench assistant of Chattogram Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-2, said: "On November 26 night, we were standing in front of Ayesha Denim shop, a few yards off Elias' outlet. All of a sudden, a group of plainclothes men reached there and looked for Elias.

"When Elias confirmed his identity, they just bundled him into the microbus and left. We informed Elias' family about the incident. About half an hour later, we heard that he was arrested by Rab with a firearm," said Palok, also a friend of Elias.

Md Arif, a rent-a-car driver, who was with Palak and Elias in front of Ayesa Denim, echoed the statement made by Palok.

Mahbubul Islam Babu, proprietor of Ayesa Denim, said Elias and his friends were standing in front of his shop that night. Suddenly, three plainclothes men caught Elias, forced him into a microbus and left.

"Later, we learnt that Elias was arrested with arms," he told this newspaper.

Elias' wife Hazera Hasan Maya, an apprentice lawyer, said, "We [family members] rushed to spot after receiving a call. We initially thought that DB men picked up my husband. In the meantime, we heard that Rab arrested a person in CDA area and we rushed there."

"We saw a microbus and a Rab pickup there. We asked the Rab members about my husband, but they did not respond to our queries," she added.

VERSIONS OF WITNESSES

Ali Akbar, the first witness named by the Rab in the case statement, is a street vendor. He runs a makeshift shop in front of a mosque opposite to Popular Crockeries.

Speaking to this correspondent, he said, "I had been gossiping with some other vendors that night. Suddenly, a black microbus reached the area."

"I also saw a Rab pickup near the microbus. A few Rab members asked me about the prices of face masks and winter clothes. They also bought some masks from me. Within a few minutes, a Rab official came to me, asked my name and personal details."

Akbar said when he asked the Rab official why he needed those information, the official replied that they were arresting a man.

"I saw a handcuffed man [Elias] inside the microbus. There were a firearm and ammunition on the front seat of the microbus," he added.

Recalling the November 26 incident, Md Riaz, the second witness named by the Rab, said he had been busy with his customers inside his shop (Popular Crockeries).

"I saw a Rab pickup on the street outside. Suddenly, a Rab man came to our shop and asked me to give my personal details.

"When I asked why did they need the information, they told me about the recovery of arms. Later, they showed me the man [Elias] sitting in the back seat of the microbus. I also saw a firearm on the seat of the vehicle," added Riaz, a private university student.

Though the SI claimed to have seized the firearm in front of witnesses, versions of the two civil witnesses contradict the claim.

WHAT THE RAB SAYS

Lieutenant Colonel M Yousuf, commanding officer of Rab-7, said, "The family of an arrestee makes many claims after an arrest. The Rab arrested him with arms red-handed. There is no scope for framing anyone in a false case."

"Sometimes witnesses become frightened. But be rest assured we don't frame anyone in false cases," he added.

Asked about the claims made by Elias' family, SI Biswajit refused to make any comment on the issue.