Firing on protesters: Ctg Swechasebak League leader arrested in Feni

Police have arrested Mithun Chakraborty, the president of Chawkbazar ward Swechasebak League in Chattogram, in a case filed over opening fire at students and other protesters during the July-August uprising in the port city.

Mithun was arrested on Sunday from Sultanpur area of Feni, said Chattogram Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Crime) Rois Uddin.

Citing reports, he said on 16 July 2024, around 2:30pm, Mithun Chakraborty, along with his accomplices, launched a violent attack in front of Chittagong Shopping Complex near the Sholoshahar Gate-2.

"Armed with firearms and other weapons, they obstructed the road, vandalised vehicles, and opened fire on protesting students, intending to kill them. The attack created panic in the area as explosives were detonated to intimidate the public

"Images and videos of Mithun Chakraborty indiscriminately firing at students with a pistol went viral on social media and were widely covered by news outlets. He has since been identified as a key perpetrator of violence during the July-August anti-discrimination protests," Rois added.

Mithun Chakraborty is also a known associate of former Chattogram city councillor Nur Mostafa Tinu, notorious for extortion, illegal land grabbing and tender manipulation in the city's Katalganj and Chawkbazar areas.

Mithun is among the accused in a case filed with Panchlaish Police Station in connection with the attack on the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement protest.