5 RMP DB members suspended over 'abduction', 'ransom'

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) has suspended five members of its Detective Branch (DB) over allegations of abduction and ransom collection in Bogura.

RMP Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian made the decision on Monday afternoon after the five officers were detained by the police in Bogura. 

The suspended officers are 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 (suspended DB men) did not go on any official operation, nor did they inform anyone before leaving. They went on their own accord and were detained there. A case has been filed against them. I have suspended them, and further investigation will be conducted before departmental action is taken," said the RMP commissioner.

According to DB Inspector Ibrahim Khalil, the five were on duty with RMP's DB but travelled to Bogura without authorisation. "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 said.

Police sources said that at around 3 am on Sunday, members of the Kundarhat Highway Police Station in Bogura detained the five officers and their microbus driver at the Birgram area 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 said the accused officers had gone to Dhunot upazila on Sunday, where they arrested two individuals, Rabbi and Jahangir, from Digharkandi village in Dhunot upazila on Sunday on gambling charges. Later, they demanded Tk 12 lakh as 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 seize the microbus. Eventually, with the help of the Highway Police, the vehicle was intercepted at Birgram in Shahjahanpur.

A primary investigation revealed that an RMP DB officer named Abdul Wahab had acted as an informant for the accused officers. Wahab, who had taken leave two days earlier and travelled to his village in Dhunot, is suspected of providing information that led the five officers to the location.