Handcuffed Suspect Snatched After Police Attack

A violent and audacious attack on police officers in Mymensingh city has triggered widespread concern after a handcuffed suspect was forcibly snatched from custody by an armed mob, leaving five police personnel seriously injured.

The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon, 13 January, at the Digarkanda Fishery intersection, a busy area of Mymensingh city. According to police and eyewitness accounts, officers had arrested Ariful Islam, a resident of Digarkanda and son of local man Sagar Ali, and were escorting him back to the police station when the assault occurred.

Ariful Islam is a named accused in a case involving a brutal assault that took place several days earlier. Police said Ariful and his associates allegedly attacked a man named Russel with sharp weapons and beat him severely, leaving him critically injured. Russel is currently undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), commonly known as Pangu Hospital, in Dhaka, where his condition remains critical. Following that attack, a case was filed at Kotwali Model Police Station, naming Ariful Islam as one of the principal accused.

On Tuesday at around 4:00pm, a five-member police team led by Sub-Inspector Farid Ahmed conducted an operation in the Digarkanda area and successfully arrested Ariful. However, as the team was transporting the suspect, several hundred individuals, allegedly led by Ariful’s father Sagar Ali, surrounded the officers. Armed with sticks, rods and locally made weapons, the attackers launched a sudden and coordinated assault on the police team.

Witnesses reported that the officers were indiscriminately hacked and beaten, sustaining serious injuries. Amid the chaos, the mob forcibly freed Ariful Islam, snatching him away while he was still in handcuffs, before fleeing the scene.

All five injured police officers were rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where they were admitted for treatment. Hospital sources confirmed that some of the officers sustained deep injuries, although they are currently out of immediate danger.

Following the attack, law enforcement authorities deployed additional forces to stabilise the situation. Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Bangladesh Army were seen patrolling the area to prevent further unrest and to restore order.

The Officer-in-Charge of Mymensingh Kotwali Model Police Station, Mohammad Nazmus Sakib, confirmed that Sagar Ali has been detained in connection with the incident. He added that multiple raids are under way to arrest Ariful Islam and identify all those involved in the attack on police officers.

Police officials described the incident as a direct challenge to the rule of law and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice swiftly.

Incident at a Glance

Authorities have assured residents that security operations will continue until all suspects are apprehended and public confidence restored.