Police in Raipur, Lakshmipur, have detained a local Krishak Dal leader following allegations that an expatriate couple were held captive, brutally assaulted and robbed while attending a birthday celebration at a friend’s residence.

The suspect, identified as Riyad Hasan Boyati, was detained from the Denayetpur area of Raipur Bazar on Tuesday afternoon (20 October). He is an aspirant for the presidency of the Raipur municipal unit of Krishak Dal and a former joint convener of the Chhatra Dal unit at Raipur Government College.

According to the complaint, Riyad allegedly led a group that confined expatriate Sabuj and his wife, Mili Akter, inside a residential building before physically assaulting them and taking their belongings.

Police said the incident occurred on Friday afternoon on the ground floor of a building owned by Faruk Ahmed along Mirganj Road in Ward No. 7 of Raipur municipality.

The couple had visited the property after receiving an invitation from Mili’s friend, Sathi Akter, who rents a flat in the building.

Sathi had arranged a birthday celebration for her daughter and invited Mili and her husband to join the occasion. However, what was intended to be a family gathering allegedly turned into a violent confrontation when a group of individuals entered the residence unexpectedly.

According to the case statement, the intruders initially behaved aggressively towards Mili before allegedly taking approximately one bhori and two annas of gold jewellery belonging to Sathi.

When Mili attempted to intervene and prevent the alleged robbery, the suspects reportedly attacked her repeatedly, leaving her bleeding from her injuries.

The complaint states that the attackers subsequently held Sabuj and his wife captive and forcibly took Tk 25,000 in cash along with a bank card.

The situation became more distressing when the suspects allegedly questioned the couple’s marital relationship and accused them of having an illicit affair.

According to the allegations, the attackers took the couple into a separate room and recorded a video while making accusations about their relationship.

Sabuj reportedly attempted to establish that Mili was his legally married wife by showing photographs from their wedding. Despite being presented with the photographs, the suspects allegedly continued intimidating the couple and issuing threats before leaving the residence.

Following the incident, Sabuj approached Raipur Police Station and filed a case the next day.

The complaint named five individuals and identified six others as unknown suspects, bringing the total number of accused persons to 11.

The allegations detailed in the case include unlawful confinement, physical assault, the removal of cash and jewellery, and intimidation of the couple during the incident.

Police subsequently began investigating the complaint, which led to Riyad’s detention in the Denayetpur area on Tuesday afternoon.

Sub-Inspector Nurul Islam of Raipur Police Station, who is investigating the case, confirmed the detention and said the suspect would be produced before a court.

“One person named Riyad has been detained. He was involved in the incident. He will be produced before the court,” the investigating officer said.

The detained man’s political background has also drawn attention to the case. Riyad previously served as a joint convener of the Chhatra Dal unit at Raipur Government College and is seeking a leadership position in the local Krishak Dal organisation.

However, the accusations against him and the other individuals named in the complaint remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.

Police have not disclosed whether any of the remaining suspects have been apprehended. It also remains unclear whether the allegedly stolen gold jewellery, cash and bank card have been recovered.

The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported assault, the alleged confinement of the couple and the roles of those accused.

For now, the case remains under police investigation, with further legal proceedings to follow Riyad’s production before the court.