2 arrested over Chand Udyan land-grabbing incident
The accused are 'contract-based' land grabbers and snatchers.
Police have arrested two people in a case filed over an attack, vandalism and alleged looting of property during an attempt to occupy a disputed plot in Chand Udyan Housing area of Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
The arrestees are Md Limon, 23, and Md Monwar Hossain Saddam, 25. They were arrested in separate raids on Sunday night, Mohammadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Halim said.
Police said Anwar Hossain Ripon filed the case with Mohammadpur Police Station on Sunday, naming 10 people and 20–25 unnamed others over Saturday's incident. The case, numbered 90, was filed under Sections 143, 448, 427, 380 and 109 of the Penal Code.
Following the filing of the case, police arrested Limon from a house in Mohammadpur's Block 29 and Saddam from the Bashbari area.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Police claimed the two have previous cases filed against them over snatching and fighting. They also allegedly admitted to taking part in snatching and land occupation on a contractual basis, according to police.
The incident occurred around 11am on Saturday on a plot near Rose Villa, west of the embankment under Mohammadpur Police Station.
CCTV footage circulated on social media showed a group of people breaking the lock of an office on the plot and entering it. They were later seen removing various items from the office.
The police stated that the plot was in the possession of an individual named Md Alam. On Saturday morning, 150–200 people led by Jony and Rezaul went there, broke the existing tin fence and vandalised an office on the plot before attempting to occupy the land by putting up a new tin fence.
Mohammadpur OC Abdul Halim told TBS on Saturday that there was a dispute over ownership of the land. He advised the parties concerned to seek a court ruling, saying whoever wins the case would legally be entitled to the land.
He said police went to the embankment area after receiving information about an attempt to occupy a plot and brought the situation under control.
Police said raids are continuing to arrest the other suspects involved in the incident.
