Six cops, three others sued in Chattogram on extortion charge

A case was filed on Monday against nine people, including the officer-in-charge of Panchlaish Police Station in Chattogram and five other policemen, for allegedly extorting Tk 1.5 million threatening the victim to put on crossfire.

Mohammad Nurul Absar, ex-assistant secretary of religious affairs of central sub-committee of Awami League, filed the case with Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court in the morning.

Mominur Rahman, a counsel of the plaintiff, said Judge Mohammad Akbar Hossain Mridha took cognisance of the case and asked the director of Chattogram Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the incident.

The accused are Abul Kashem Bhuiyan, former officer-in-charge of Patenga Police Station, two sub-inspectors - Pronoy Prakash and Abdul Momin, three assistant sub-inspectors -Tarun Kanti Sharma, Kamruzzman and Mihir, three alleged drug traders-Ilias alias Gavhi Ilias, Jasim and Nurul Huda.

According to the prosecution, sub-inspector Pronoy Prakash made a phone call to plaintiff Nurul Absar, a resident of Patenga area, and asked him to meet him in front of his residence around 3 am on June 1, 2018.

When the AL leader went to a bakery to meet him, SI Abdul Momin and three ASI joined them and took breakfast together.

At one stage, the policemen forced him to go to Patenga police station and locked him up. Later, the policemen demanded Tk 3.0 million as extortion after branding him a Yaba trader.

They threatened the plaintiff saying that if he fails to pay the money they will put him on 'crossfire'.

Scared, Nurul Absar gave them Tk 1.5 million through his cousin and SI Momin and ASI Kamruzzman received the money the following day.

Having failed to realise the rest of the amount, ASI Tarun Kanti filed a case against him on June 3, 2018 under the Special Powers Act and produced him before a court which sent him to jail.

After securing bail on July 29, 2018, Nurul Absar filed a written complaint with the ACC.

Contacted, Abul Kashem Bhuiya, current officer-in-charge of Panchlaish Police Station, said Nurl Absar was a listed drug trader and he was wanted in many cases.

Denying his allegation, OC Abul Kashem said police arrested him during the countrywide anti-narcotics drive before the national election.