Ctg cop accused of torture, extortion

Police allegedly assaulted a jewellery trader and later released him in exchange for money in Mirsarai of Chittagong on Saturday night.

Horekrisna Mridha, owner of Rupa House of Rajor in Madaripur, was returning to his Madaripur residence by a bus from a Chittagong ornament market after securing order for making some jewellery.

A team of Mirsarai Police Station led by Sub-inspector Md Waliullah stopped the vehicle in the area for a search, said Mridha.

The SI got him out of the bus, found some silver in his bag, and said those were illegal, said the trader.

The police official threatened to implicate him in a case and started beating him although he said he had all documents and a trade licence, said Mridha.

"The SI later took Tk 10,000 from me and released me after taking my signature on a blank paper," he said.

Contacted, SI Waliullah said the trader had no legal documents of the silver at that time.

Denying the allegation of torture and extortion, the SI said the trader raised a false allegation against him.

They released him after taking his signature and mobile number on a blank paper so that they could contact him further, if necessary, he said, adding that it was their regular practice.

No allegation was lodged with the police station in this connection, said Officer-in-Charge Imtiaz Bhuiyan.

"But we will look into the matter and take action if anybody is found guilty," said the OC.

Salauddin Sikder, assistant superintendent of police of Mirsarai circle, said he was not aware of the incident.

Mridha said he did not seek legal recourse thinking that he would not get justice.