Three businessmen were injured in an alleged attack in Lakshmipur after one of them refused to pay an extortion demand. The attackers allegedly beat the businessman and attempted to set fire to both his body and his business premises after pouring petrol over them.
A case has been filed against three people in connection with the incident. No arrests had been made by Friday afternoon, according to police. CCTV footage of the incident has also circulated on social media.
The incident took place around midday on Tuesday on Kalibazar Road, near Uttar Temuhani in Lakshmipur town, according to police. The injured businessmen were taken to Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital for treatment.
The accused have been identified as Delowar Hossain, son of the late Dhanu Mia, and his younger brother Shakil and Munna, according to the complaint.
The victims alleged that Delowar had previously demanded extortion money from several traders in the Kalibazar area. They said he had demanded Tk500 a day from Jagadish, who runs a salon, and the same amount from mobile servicing businessman Krishnapal.
According to the allegations, when Krishnapal refused to pay, Delowar, Shakil and Munna entered his shop on Tuesday and assaulted him. They allegedly poured petrol inside the business premises and attempted to set it on fire.
When nearby businessman Shahed Alam and shop employee Sohag tried to intervene, they too were allegedly beaten. The attackers are also accused of pouring petrol over one of the businessmen and attempting to set him on fire.
The situation reportedly became more volatile when other traders in the area moved in to help the injured. The accused allegedly attacked them with locally made weapons, leaving Shahed Alam, Sohag and Rakib injured. Police were subsequently alerted through the national emergency service 999 and went to the scene to bring the situation under control.
The incident has caused anger and concern among traders in Kalibazar. Business owners have called for the immediate arrest of those responsible and demanded stronger measures to ensure their safety while conducting business.
Abul Kalam Azad, general secretary of the Lakshmipur Traders Association, said such an incident had not occurred in the market before. He said the attack had created a sense of insecurity among traders and urged the authorities to take swift legal action against those accused.
Mohammad Sharifur Rahman, investigation officer at Sadar Police Station, said a case had been filed against the three accused based on a written complaint and that a copy of the case had been sent to the court.
According to the police officer, the accused allegedly entered the shop unlawfully, demanded extortion money and, after failing to receive it, sprayed petrol inside the shop and over a person sitting nearby. He described the alleged act as extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
Police said efforts were continuing to arrest the accused. Investigators are also expected to examine available CCTV footage and other evidence as part of the investigation into the incident.
The allegations have heightened concerns among traders over personal safety and security at their workplaces. For small business owners, an atmosphere of intimidation can affect not only their ability to operate normally but also the wider sense of security within a commercial area.
Police have urged people not to take the law into their own hands and said action would be taken through the legal process. The immediate priority for traders, meanwhile, remains the arrest of those accused and the restoration of a safe environment in the market.
