8 cops injured as 'supporters of arrested Chhatra Dal leader' attack New Market Police Station
The attackers claimed to be supporters of the arrested Chhatra Dal leader Mohammad Hossain aka Mithun, 35, according to New Market police
At least eight policemen were injured in an attack by dozens of men on a convoy of the New Market Police Station in an alleged attempt to snatch a Chhatra Dal leader arrested over the hacking of a businessman.
The attackers claimed to be supporters of the arrested Chhatra Dal leader Mohammad Hossain Aka Mithun, 35, according to New Market police.
The incident took place on Friday (24 January) morning, New Market Police Station's Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohsin Uddin Atik told The Business Standard.
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The injured policemen include Tariq Latif, assistant commissioner, New Market Zone of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
Six people were arrested in a case filed over the attack, OC Atik said. Sub-Inspector Omar Faruq filed the case.
"Mithun's supporters tried to snatch him from police but their attempt was foiled. A case has been filed over the incident. The arrestees have been produced before the court," he added.
The arrested are Bashir Islam, 28, Mohammad Hasan, 21, Mohammad Emon, 25, Masum Mahmud, 32, Mohammad Alamin, 30, and Akbar Ali.
Police officials said that Mithun is an accused in a case filed over the hacking of Multiplan Shop Owners Association's Senior Joint General Secretary Ehteshamil Haque on 10 January in front of the Multiplan Centre adjacent to the capital's Elephant Road.
The association's another Senior Joint General Secretary Wahidul Hasan filed a case over the attack with the New Market Police Station accusing criminal gang Emon Group.
According to officials familiar with the case's investigation, an individual remanded in the case informed the police that they were instructed to go to the spot of the attack by Chhatra Dal leader Mithun.
The arrested individual also claimed Mithun works for Emon Group's boss Sanjidul Hasan Emon and extorts money from businessmen in the Dhanmondi area.
Police later arrested Mithun from the Purbachal 300-Feet area of the capital on Thursday (23 January) night and brought him to the New Market Police Station.
According to the statement of the case filed over Friday's attack on policemen, Mithun was brought to the station at about 4:00am.
"As the police convoy carrying him reached the police station's premises, Mithun's supporters blocked the convoy's way. When they were asked to go away, they attacked the policemen in a bid to snatch Mithun from them," read the case statement.
"They attacked with sticks, iron rods and machetes. New Market Zone AC Tariq Latif, sub-inspectors Arab Ali, Firoz Ahmed, Khandaker Mesbah, and four to five policemen were seriously injured."
"However, many of the miscreants quickly fled after the police resisted. Police have arrested 6 people from the scene," added the case statement.
When asked if the police have information on whose order the attack was launched, OC Atik said, "A case has been filed. The investigation officer of the case will find that out."
