Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) has suspended five members of its Detective Branch (DB) for their alleged involvement in abduction and ransom collection in Bogura.
RMP Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian made the decision on Monday afternoon after the officers were detained by police in Bogura.
The suspended officers include Sub-Inspector (SI) Shahin Mohammad Anu Islam and constables Ripon Mia, Abul Kalam Azad, Mahbub Alam, and Bashir Ali. Their microbus driver, Mehedi Hasan, was also taken into custody.
“They did not go on any official operation, nor did they inform anyone before leaving. They went on their own accord and were detained in Bogura. A case has been filed against them. I have suspended them, and further investigation will determine any departmental action,” said the RMP commissioner.
DB Inspector Ibrahim Khalil confirmed that the officers were on duty with RMP’s DB but traveled to Bogura without authorization. “I was in the office until 3:30 am last night, but they did not inform me before leaving. Only they can explain why they went,” he added.
According to police sources, at around 3 am on Sunday, officers from Kundarhat Highway Police Station in Bogura intercepted the five DB members and their microbus driver at Birgram on the Bogura-Natore highway. They recovered Tk 2 lakh in cash and a police walkie-talkie from them.
Bogura Superintendent of Police (SP) Zedan Al Musa stated that the accused officers had gone to Dhunot upazila on Sunday, where they arrested two individuals, Rabbi and Jahangir, from Digharkandi village on gambling charges. They then demanded Tk 12 lakh in ransom. After negotiations, they collected Tk 2 lakh in cash and Tk 1.3 lakh via mobile banking before releasing the two.
Upon learning about the incident, Bogura District Police, with assistance from Sherpur and Shahjahanpur police stations, attempted to intercept the microbus. The vehicle was eventually stopped at Birgram in Shahjahanpur with the help of the Highway Police.
A preliminary investigation revealed that an RMP DB officer, Abdul Wahab, had acted as an informant for the accused officers. Wahab, who had taken leave two days earlier and traveled to his village in Dhunot, is suspected of providing the information that led the five officers to the location.
