Police mobbed during drug case arrest in Satkhira

Police came under attack and were reportedly held hostage by a group of suspected drug dealers while attempting to arrest suspects accused of assaulting a village police officer for allegedly providing information about drug activities in Tala upazila of Satkhira.

The incident occurred around 9:30pm on Sunday in Hajrakati village.

According to local sources, village police officer Sohel Sheikh, of Ward 1 under Khalilnagar Union, was allegedly attacked in front of a tea stall at Hajrakati Bazar after he reportedly provided information to police about drug-related activities.

Several men, including Billal Biswas, Faruk Biswas and Hazrat Sardar, allegedly beat him with sticks, leaving him injured. He subsequently received treatment at Tala Upazila Health Complex.

Sohel later filed a written complaint and a general diary (GD) with Tala Police Station, seeking legal action and protection.

Based on the complaint and GD, a police team went to Hajrakati village around 9:30pm Sunday to arrest the accused. Police reportedly detained one of the suspects, identified as Hazrat, but a group of alleged drug dealers and their associates confronted the officers, forcibly took the detainee away and confined the police team.

On receiving the information, Tala Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abu Bakkar Siddiq arrived at the scene with additional personnel and rescued the trapped officers.

Police subsequently detained three people in connection with the incident. They were identified as Faruk Biswas, son of the late Apu Biswas; Rafiqul Biswas, son of Nur Islam Biswas; and Rashed Khan, son of Moslem Khan, all from Hajrakati village.

OC Abu Bakkar Siddiq said police had gone to the area to arrest suspects named in the complaint and GD filed over the assault on the village police officer. He said the group allegedly obstructed police operations and confronted the officers.

“Three people have been detained from the scene,” the OC said, adding that legal action was being taken against those allegedly involved in obstructing government duties and drug-related activities.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and further action will be taken in accordance with the law.