The officer-in-charge of Kuliarchar Police Station in Kishoreganj has been closed on administrative grounds after an Awami League leader was allegedly snatched from police custody while handcuffed.
Police filed a case on Tuesday against 40 people over the incident, naming 15 individuals and 25 others as unidentified accused.
The OC, Kazi Arif Uddin, was also served a show-cause notice following the incident, according to police.
Renu Mia, president of Ward No 9 of Chhaysuti Union Awami League, was arrested from his home on Monday afternoon in a case filed over an alleged attack on students during the anti-discrimination movement.
According to the case statement, police handcuffed Renu after arresting him. His family members and several local residents then gathered at the scene and allegedly surrounded the police.
They subsequently got into a scuffle with the officers and forcibly took Renu away, the statement said.
Sub-Inspector Sharafin Mia and constables Bablu Mia and Sohel Rana were injured in the incident. They later received treatment at Kuliarchar Upazila Health Complex.
Police launched a search operation with several teams and rearrested Renu from the Madhabdi area at around 9:50pm the same day. He was still wearing handcuffs when he was rearrested, police said.
Sharafin later filed the case, accusing the 15 named individuals and 25 unidentified people of obstructing police duties, assaulting law enforcers and rescuing an arrested accused.
The accused were charged under Sections 186, 332, 224, 225, 353 and 34 of the Penal Code.
After Renu’s arrest, police took seven women, including his family members and relatives, to the police station for questioning.
Four of them were later named as accused in the case and sent to court, while the other three were released on bond after police said they found no evidence of their involvement in the incident.
Abu Musa Sheikh, assistant superintendent of police of Bhairab Circle, confirmed the developments.
“A case has been filed over the incident of forming a mob and snatching the accused from police custody. Police operations to arrest those involved are continuing,” he said.
He also confirmed that the Kuliarchar OC had been closed on administrative grounds following the incident.
