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Police came under attack while conducting an operation to arrest listed top criminal Wakil Hossain alias Baga, 42, in Khulshi of Chattogram city early Friday.
The incident took place around 4:30am in the Wireless Mor and Pahartali areas of Khulshi on September 4. Taking advantage of the attack and vandalism of a police vehicle, Baga allegedly escaped with the help of his family through a secret tunnel inside his house.
At least six police personnel, including the officer-in-charge of Khulshi Police Station and his bodyguard, were injured when attackers hurled bricks and objects resembling cocktails at them.
Wakil Hossain, son of Mohammad Jabed of Wireless Colony in Khulshi, has allegedly maintained a reign of terror in the area for years, according to police and local sources.
The latest police operation was launched following a widely discussed incident in which Pahartali Degree College lecturer Mizanur Rahman was allegedly abducted and assaulted, while the college principal was kept on a video call and threatened. Wakil Hossain was named as the second accused in a case filed over the incident.
As police reached the area, Baga’s associates allegedly erected barricades on the road and attacked them with bricks, bottles and cocktail-like explosives. The official vehicle of the Khulshi police OC was vandalised and severely damaged.
Police fired three to four sound grenades and rubber bullets in self-defence to bring the situation under control. The attack left five to six police personnel, including the OC, injured. They received primary treatment.
Later, several police teams launched a sweeping operation in the lanes of the Wireless area and at Baga’s residence. During the operation, police discovered a secret tunnel and an escape route inside the house.
Police said Baga had already fled through the tunnel with assistance from family members before the operation reached the house. However, he allegedly threatened police and behaved arrogantly over mobile phone calls and video calls during the operation.
Khulshi Police Station OC Mohammad Abdur Rahim said police went to arrest Baga based on a warrant in an arms case and other criminal cases following the filing of a regular case over the assault on the college teacher.
“But the accused had planned in advance, barricaded the road, suddenly attacked the police and vandalised a government vehicle,” he said.
The OC said five to six police personnel, including himself, were injured in the attack.
The law-and-order situation in the area is currently under control, with additional police deployed, he said. Legal action against the attackers is underway, while police operations continue to arrest Wakil Hossain and others involved.
Who Is Wakil Hossain alias Baga?
Wakil Hossain alias Baga, a former joint convener of the Chattogram Metropolitan unit of Jubo Volunteer Dal, has allegedly been involved in criminal activities in Khulshi, Pahartali and Akbar Shah for years.
He faces at least 17 cases filed with different police stations, including allegations of extortion, drug dealing, land grabbing and offences under the Explosives Act.
On June 8, the central Jubo Volunteer Dal expelled him from the organisation following a bloody clash linked to alleged disciplinary violations and attempts to establish dominance in the area.
Most recently, a regular case was filed against him on Sunday (August 30) over the alleged abduction and torture of Pahartali Degree College lecturer Mizanur Rahman and threats to the college principal during a video call.
Wakil Hossain was named as the second accused among seven named suspects in the case, while four to five unidentified people were also accused.
Police launched an operation to arrest him following the incident.