A group of people allegedly attacked police officers and freed a wanted suspect from custody in Naragati, Kalia upazila, Narail, on Tuesday evening. The suspect, who was reportedly wearing handcuffs at the time, was taken away after several officers were assaulted.
Four people have since been arrested in connection with the incident, while the handcuffs were recovered the following morning. Police are continuing efforts to locate the escaped suspect and identify others allegedly involved in the attack.
The incident occurred at Putimari Bazar at around 6.45pm on 22 September. The suspect was identified as Md Esken Sheikh, 40, son of Bablu Sheikh of Putimari village. Police said he was wanted in several arms and drug-related cases and described him as a known drug dealer in the area.
According to police and local sources, a team from Naragati Police Station, led by Sub-Inspector (SI) Murad Hossain and Assistant Sub-Inspector Hasan, was conducting an operation at the market when they arrested Esken Sheikh with drugs. Officers placed him in handcuffs after the arrest.
The situation reportedly escalated after news of the arrest spread. Police alleged that a group led by Esken’s brothers, Nayan Sheikh and Sajal Sheikh, and his father, Bablu Sheikh, arrived carrying locally made weapons and sticks and launched an attack on the officers.
SI Murad Hossain was allegedly beaten with sticks on his neck, back and hands during the assault. Several other police personnel were also injured. Amid the confrontation, the attackers allegedly freed Esken and fled with him while he was still in police custody.
Police have accused several other people of taking part in the assault. They include Esken’s maternal cousin Hridoy Molla, neighbour Al Amin Sheikh, former general secretary of the Thana Sramik League Mizanur Molla, Taju Sheikh, Shamim Shikdar, Hafizur Rahman and Russell Sheikh.
Additional police personnel were sent to the scene after the station received information about the attack. They brought the situation under control and arranged medical treatment for the injured officers.
Police subsequently launched an overnight operation in Putimari village. Four people were arrested during the operation. They were identified as Hamin Sheikh and Tamim Sheikh, both sons of Al Amin Sheikh; Sourav Sheikh, son of Said Sheikh; and Jasim Fakir, son of Amroz Fakir.
The handcuffs that had gone missing during the incident were also recovered. At around 9am on Wednesday, 23 September, police found them cut apart near the entrance gate of the Putimari Eidgah ground.
Naragati Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Hossain Ali confirmed the incident. He said the missing handcuffs had been recovered and four people had already been arrested over the attack.
A case is in the process of being filed over the alleged assault on police and the freeing of the suspect, the officer said. Police are continuing their search for Esken Sheikh, while efforts are also under way to arrest others allegedly involved in the incident.
The investigation is expected to establish the individual roles of those accused of participating in the assault and the circumstances in which the suspect was able to escape from police custody.
