Probe begins into alleged water poisoning at Sitakunda's Jungle Salimpur joint forces camp
Quoting investigators, he suspected that the water supply was deliberately contaminated before dawn on Sunday.
Police have launched an investigation into the suspected poisoning of the water supply at a joint forces camp in the Alinagar area of Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda, Chattogram, after three police constables fell ill.
A case was filed with Sitakunda Police Station on Sunday night against 34 named individuals and 20 unidentified suspects, Md Mohinul Islam, officer-in-charge of the police station, said yesterday (27 July).
One "Yasin", the alleged leader of the criminal group known as Yasin Bahini in Jungle Salimpur, has been named as one of the accused while investigators were probing the incident, he said.
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Quoting investigators, he suspected that the water supply was deliberately contaminated before dawn on Sunday.
Superintendent of Police Md Masud Alam said nearly 300 members of the police, Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh are stationed at the joint forces' camp, which relies on water stored in tanks.
He said the motor operator on duty smelt a bad odour and found unusual signs in the water while starting the supply early in the morning. Officials later found similar conditions in all the storage tanks and recovered an empty bottle believed to have contained a poisonous substance.
Three police constables fell temporarily ill after washing their hands and faces with the contaminated water, Masud said. They received primary treatment and recovered.
Police have collected water samples for laboratory analysis. Masud said it is still unclear whether the substance was poison, pesticide or another chemical.
