8 cops acquitted of robbery charge in Meherpur

First Class Magistrate Amena Begum passed the order at a crowded courtroom while all the accused policemen including a Sub-Inspector (SI) were on the dock.

After the verdict, complainant Idris Ali told newsmen he would move higher court.

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The eight acquitted policemen are ASI Altaf Hossain, constables Mahfuz, Abul Bashar, Yunus Ali, Bijoy Kumar Babu, Helal uddin, Habibur Rahman and Coukidar Susanta Kumar Paul.

According to the case filed by Idris, the eight policemen from Bamundi outpost entered his house at midnight on June 14 on a plea that there were smuggled goods inside. They searched the house and took away Tk Tk 26000 and ornaments and valuables worth about Tk 30,000.

While leaving the cops threatened cow trader Idrish not to discloses the incident.

As the cops left the house, Idrish cried for help. This drew neighbours who encircled caught the policemen and confined them into Bamundi Primary School.

Policemen from Meherpur rescued and arrested the eight.

After interrogation on June 15, the cops were produced before a Magistrate' s court, which sent them to jail. A departmental investigation was done under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Khulna Range Sohorab Hossain. The investigation report submitted on July 4 said there was no evidence of involvement of the policemen in the incident.

The Speedy Trail Tribunal gave the verdict after examining records and witnesses.