An investigation is underway in Joypurhat’s Akkelpur upazila after a local businessman alleged that a crowd gathered to attack, vandalise, and loot his property because he refused to pay extortion money. The incident took place on Saturday afternoon in Krishnakola village, drawing intense scrutiny over local vigilante actions and community disputes.
The victim, Al Amin, formally lodged a complaint at the local police station on Sunday afternoon. According to the police report and the victim’s statement, the attackers targeted both his commercial workshop and his residential home, making off with cash and valuables. Initial police estimates cite structural and property damages of roughly 690,000 taka alongside 7 million taka in missing cash, though the owner maintains the overall losses are significantly higher due to stolen gold jewellery and equipment.
Background of the Dispute
The tension originated from the theft of an electric rickshaw, known locally as an easy-bike, belonging to Sagar Hussain from the nearby village of Burapukur. Hussain had purchased the vehicle a few months prior for 3,150,000 taka, but it was stolen from his residence on the night of August 9. Although Hussain filed a preliminary complaint with local authorities, the vehicle remained unrecovered.
Locals spotted four suspicious individuals in the Burapukur area on a Friday night, eventually detaining three of them after a chase. One local resident, Raju, allegedly assaulted the detained trio that night. A public arbitration meeting was organised the following morning near the Burapukur village mosque, drawing a crowd of over one hundred people. During this gathering, the detained suspects reportedly confessed to stealing Hussain’s easy-bike and claimed they had sold it to a shop in Krishnakola village. A video of the proceedings subsequently circulated on social media, though the independent verification of those claims remains unconfirmed.
Escalation and Allegations of Looting
Following the arbitration, a large mob led by Raju escorted the three suspects to the “Bhai-Bhai Engineering Workshop and Machineries” in Krishnakola village. Hundreds of residents from surrounding communities converged on the premises. Tensions boiled over, resulting in extensive damage to the workshop and an adjacent residential building.
Law enforcement personnel arrived shortly afterwards, rescued the three suspects, and transported them to the police station. By Saturday afternoon, the trio was produced before the court under section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and subsequently released on bail.
Al Amin stated that he and his brother have operated their business with an unblemished reputation for roughly twelve years. He claimed that Raju had approached them a month earlier demanding 50,000 taka to fund a local picnic, issuing threats of retaliation when the demand was refused.
“They used the pretext of stolen easy-bike parts to attack our shop and home,” Al Amin said. “They looted cash, gold jewellery, and workshop machinery, causing immense financial devastation.”
Conversely, Raju has strongly denied the extortion allegations. He maintained that he merely accompanied the suspects and police to the workshop after the men confessed to the theft. He claimed no violence, vandalism, or looting occurred during the visit and accused Al Amin and his brother of running a trade in stolen vehicle parts. Al Amin has firmly rejected these accusations, maintaining that his business operates entirely within legal boundaries.
The incident highlights a complex web of competing claims, balancing allegations of criminal enterprise against accusations of unlawful extortion and vigilante justice. Police investigations continue to sort through conflicting narratives to establish accountability.
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