MP Haji Selim's son jailed for one year
Erfan reportedly assaulted a navy officer and his wife in Dhanmondi after the official’s motorcycle had hit Erfan’s car
Highlights-
- Erfan Selim, few others assaulted a Navy officer on Sunday evening
- Incident happened after Erfan's car hit motorcycle of the officer
- A case was filed on Monday morning
- RAB started raid after the case was filed today
- A firearm, liquor bottles and illegally possessed walkie-talkies were seized from Erfan's house
A mobile court of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has jailed Dhaka-7 lawmaker Haji Mohammad Selim's son Mohammad Erfan Selim and his bodyguard for one year for illegally having liquor and possessing walkie-talkies.
After a seven-hour-long drive at the lawmaker's residence on Shoari Ghat road at Debidash Ghat Lane, RAB Executive Magistrate Sarwoer Alam passed the order on Monday evening.
Lt Col Ashique Billah, director of RAB legal and media wing, briefed the media after operation at the villa. He said two more separate cases in narcotics and arms control laws will be filed against the duo.
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Mohammad Erfan Selim himself is also a ward councillor under the Dhaka South City Corporation.
On Sunday evening, Erfan reportedly assaulted a navy officer and his wife near the Kalabagan crossing in Dhanmondi area after the official's motorcycle collided with Erfan's car. The military officer filed a case with Dhanmondi Police Station on Monday morning accusing the lawmaker's son and others.
Following the case, RAB launched the drive and arrested Erfan Selim and his bodyguard Md Jahidul Islam.
RAB also seized one foreign pistol, 400 pieces of yaba, 12 bottles of foreign liquor, 12 cans of beer, 36 walkie-talkies, handcuffs and an air gun from Erfan's possession.
"The firearm did not have any licence. And the walkie-talkies are illegal too, only security forces can use those," RAB spokesperson Lt Col Ashique Billah told the press.
RAB finds torture cell
Around 12pm Monday, a large number of RAB personnel took position in front of Haji Mohammad Selim's eight-storied lavish villa "Chan Sarder Dadabari" in old Dhaka.
Some activists and supporters of the lawmaker and his son tried to bar RAB men from raiding the house.
During the drive, RAB found the house having modern very high frequency (VHF) radio setup, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, walkie-talkies and telescope on the roof. There was also a torture cell adjacent to the high-tech villa.
"We had information that Erfan and his cohorts run a terror and extortion gang. They used to bring people to the torture cell for ransom," the RAB spokesperson said.
On the high-tech equipment, the RAB official said the VHF setup can establish independent communication channels for mobile phone calls and walkie-talkies keeping the caller's position undetectable.
Also read-
- Erfan among 3 arrested over assault on navy officer
- Erfan Selim's driver Mijanur remanded
- Erfan Selim assaults navy officer
The drive also found a golden telescope on the rooftop, which was used to monitor people's movement in the area.
Lt Col Ashique Billah said none could enter the highly secured and well-equipped residence without the permission of the lawmaker's family, even the law enforcers.
He said Haji Selim and his wife were not home during the raid. They went to see a doctor before the law enforcers cordoned off the house.
What happened on Mirpur Road?
Bangladesh Navy Lieutenant Wasif Ahmad Khan and his wife were returning home on a motorcycle from Nilkhet. Erfan Selim and his co-travellers allegedly assaulted the navy officer and his wife as the car hit the bike from behind.
Witnesses said the accused did not stop even though Wasif told them that he is a navy officer. The car had the "Member of the Parliament" sticker on it.
A footage of the incident that went viral on social media shows a man identifying himself as Lieutenant Wasif narrating the attack.
He was seen saying the attackers started beating him after the accident unilaterally for no reason, and one of his teeth was broken. He said the attackers also assaulted his wife.
Later, the assaulters escaped the scene leaving the car behind as people started to gather around. Police seized the vehicle and took its driver into custody after the incident.
Subsequently on Monday morning, Lieutenant Wasif filed a case over the incident.
Police then started to track down Erfan Selim and the other accused. They also scrutinised the CCTV footage collected from the spot.
The driver, who was taken into custody earlier, was shown arrested in the case. A Dhaka court later on Monday put him on one-day remand.
