Police abduct 3 youths, demand Tk 3m as ransom

Two policemen have allegedly abducted three young men and demanded Tk 3 million as ransom.

The accused, who have already been suspended, are assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Abdullah Al Mamun of Kaliakair police station in Gazipur and ASI Musfiqur Rahman of Mirzapur police station in Tangail district.

The ASIs have already confessed their involvement in the incident, but are now blaming each other.

The victims are Raihan Sarkar and Labib Hossain, residents of Baraibari area of Kaliakair upazila, and Nowshad Islam, from Srepur upazila.

Raihan said on Wednesday, five of his friends were going to an international trade fair in the capital by a private car.

On their way, they stopped at the Shila-Brishti Gas Filling Station along the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Kaliakair area.

While at the filling station, two of their friends, Taribullah and Rakibul Rahman went to have tea at a nearby tea stall.

ASI Abdullah Al Mamun and Musfiqur Rahman in plainclothes came up in two microbuses. Four of five people inside one of the microbuses, forcefully picked up three of them including Raihan and took them off in the microbus.

They were then taken to the Deur Area of Mirzapur below an under-constructed flyover where the policemen demanded Tk 3 million as ransom from them.

The policemen also threatened them to kill in a crossfire if they fail to pay the money. After bargaining, the policemen fixed the deal at Tk 1 million.

In the meantime, Taribullah and Raqibul informed the Kaliakair police station and families of the abducted young men about the matter.

Following the phone call, Taribullah added, a team of the Kaliakair police station went to the spot and said ASI Mamun and Musfiqur might have been involved in the incident.

When the Kaliakair officer-in-charge (OC) phoned to ASI Mamun, he confessed.

Later, the three youths were first taken to the Mirzapur police station and then taken to the Kaliakair police station around midnight.

The ASIs were subsequently suspended in connection with the incident.

The abducted young men said they were asked to submit a written complaint to the Gazipur police superintendent over the matter.

Kaliakair ASI Mamun said, he didn’t demand the ransom, Musfiqur did.

“I just assisted him. It was a huge mistake assisting them,” he added.

On the other hand, Mirzapur police station ASI Musfiqur said, “The youths were picked up as per Mamun’s direction. Mamun demanded Tk 3 million to them.”

Gazipur police station sources said Mamun and Musfiqur once were stationed at the Kaliakair police station.

They were allegedly involved in arresting 'business' while they were in Detective Branch (DB).

They allegedly looted money and gold ornaments from the houses of the accused.

Gazipur police super Shamsunnahar said ASI Mamun has already been withdrawn.

“Departmental action will be taken if they are found guilty in the investigation.”