Two policemen were arrested yesterday (Friday) in Gazipur district over allegations of demanding ransom after abducting three youths.  They were identified as Abdullah Al Mamum, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Kaliakair police station, and Mushfikur Rahman, ASI of Mirzapur police station, Samsunnahar, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gazipur district, said at a press briefing. “If any police officer commits any crime or offence, he or she will not be spared,” said the SP. She urged those present to inform her of such incidents, so that steps can be taken. The ASIs have confessed to their involvement in the incident, but are now blaming each other.

They were also withdrawn from duty in connection with an abduction and extortion plot. On Wednesday the police officers allegedly abducted three young men and then demanded Tk. 30 lakh in ransom. They also reportedly threatened to gun down the abducted trio in a staged encounter, if the ransom was not paid.

 The abducted men are Raihan Sarkar and Labib Hossain from Kaliakair upazila, and Nawshad Islam from Sreepur upazila.

 According to them and their family members, five men — Raihan, Labib, Nawshad, Toribullah, and Rakibul — were headed towards the Dhaka International Trade Fair around at 5pm on Wednesday. They were in a car.

 They stopped at the Shila-Brishti Gas Filling Station along the Dhaka-Tangail highway in the Kaliakair area.

 While at the filling station, Taribullah and Rakibul Rahman went to have tea at a nearby stall.

 ASI Abdullah Al Mamun and Musfiqur Rahman in plainclothes came in two microbuses. Four of the five people inside one of the microbuses, picked up three of them, including Raihan, and took off in the microbus.  They were taken to the Deur Area of Mirzapur below an under-construction flyover where the policemen demanded Tk. 30 lakh as ransom from them.

 The policemen also threatened to kill them if they failed to pay the money. After bargaining, the policemen fixed the deal at Tk. 1 lakh.  In the meantime, Taribullah and Raqibul informed the Kaliakair police station and families of the abducted young men about the matter.