A case has been lodged at Pangsha Model Police Station in Rajbari, 2 days after a group of men impersonating Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members allegedly hijacked a pickup truck loaded with chickens.
Pickup owner Hasanuzzaman filed the case, accusing 13 to 14 unidentified people in connection with the incident.
Mohammad Salauddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Pangsha Model Police Station, said the hijacking took place near Maishala Bus Stand along the Rajbari-Kushtia regional highway last Tuesday.
“Although the case was filed on Thursday evening, police began their investigation immediately after the incident. However, the stolen pickup has not yet been recovered, nor have any suspects been arrested.”
According to the victims, Hasanuzzaman had recently purchased the vehicle for Tk 16.65 lakh. The pickup had left Miraj Poultry Farm Unit-2 in Pirganj, Thakurgaon, on Monday evening, transporting 819 golden parent chickens weighing around 2,000 kilograms to Faridpur.
In the early hours of Tuesday, a white Hiace microbus intercepted the truck near Maishala Bus Stand in Baliapara Union of Pangsha. About 10-12 men wearing RAB uniforms got out of the vehicle, claiming the truck was carrying illegal drugs and ordered the occupants to step out, said the police official.
The assailants then restrained the driver, assistant, and lineman by tying them with ropes, blindfolding them, and forcing them into the microbus before driving away with the chicken-laden pickup.
OC Salauddin added the victims were later abandoned near Swastipur Substation Gate under Kushtia Sadar Police Station after being subjected to electric shocks. The hijackers also took away their 4 mobile phones.
Locals rescued the victims and contacted the truck owner. Initially, Hasanuzzaman believed the vehicle was headed toward Kushtia but later discovered it had been taken toward Rajbari.
RAB-10 Faridpur Camp Company Commander Md Tariqul Islam confirmed no RAB-10 Faridpur or Kushtia-12 patrol teams were operating in that area at the time of the incident. He added a drive has been launched to track down those involved in the hijacking.
