Leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal, farmers’ wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, on Thursday night scuffled with police for snatching their Rajshahi city unit member secretary Ashraful Islam on Wednesday night.
According to police and witnesses, Shah Mokhdum police arrested Ashraful in connection with Alauddin murder case on Thursday night, based on his call record evidence.
Alauddin, father of Salahuddin Mintu, a former member of Nowhata municipal Jubo Dal under Paba upazila, succumbed to his bullet wounds at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on January 15, a day after a group of local youths had opened fire on his house over a previous enmity.
Shortly after Ashraful’s arrest, however, Krishak Dal and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists stormed into the police station at about 10:00pm and locked into an altercation with the police officers, demanding immediate release of their leader.
At one stage, Krishak Dal and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists attempted to snatch Ashraful and locked into a scuffle with the police personnel, physically assaulting the latter, witnesses said.
On information, Rajshahi city unit convener Md Shamim rushed to the police station and sat in a meeting with the police officers.
Following the one-hour meeting, police released Ashraful Islam at about 11:30pm, the witnesses added.
Md Shamim told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that Shah Mokhdum police picked up Ashraful Islam in a murder case based on a call record.
‘Since a call tracking alone cannot establish someone as a suspect, and Ashraf was not involved in any wrongdoing, leaders and activists of eight wards under the city unit went to the police station out of shock and being bewildered by his arrest,’ he added.
Masuma Mustari, officer-in-charge of Shah Mokhdum police station, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that Krishak Dal leaders and activists gathered at the police station after police picked up Ashraful in connection with a murder case.
‘The heated situation was later brought under control, and we released Ashraful at night following an interrogation,’ she said.