Mob assaults traffic cop, takes back seized autorickshaw in Chattogram
Battery-run autorickshaws are banned on major Chattogram roads, but many continue to operate illegally, often leading to confrontations with law enforcement.
A mob of battery-run rickshaw drivers assaulted a traffic police constable and forcibly took back a seized vehicle in Chattogram's Patenga area yesterday afternoon (7 October).
The injured officer, Constable Nazrul Islam, is attached to the Traffic Division's Bandar Zone as a wrecker operator.
Patenga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam told The Business Standard that a group of battery-run rickshaw drivers had attacked the traffic constable, leaving him injured.
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"Legal action is underway, and efforts are on to recover the snatched rickshaw," the OC said.
According to police and witnesses, a traffic sergeant and Nazrul were on duty at Katgor intersection when they stopped a battery-run rickshaw operating illegally on the main road.
As Nazrul was driving the seized vehicle away, a group of around 50–60 autorickshaw drivers surrounded him.
The mob reportedly hurled abuse, vandalised the vehicle, dragged Nazrul out and beat him up before fleeing with the seized autorickshaw.
Notably, battery-run autorickshaws are banned on major roads in Chattogram due to safety concerns and traffic congestion, but hundreds continue to operate illegally, often leading to confrontations with law enforcement.
