2 NCP leaders arrested for 'ransom', 3 more held while trying to release them

Two leaders of National Citizen Party (NCP) have been arrested in Dinajpur over collecting 'ransom money', police said.

A middle-aged man who was kidnapped has been rescued at that time. Later, three more were detained on charges of lobbying and fighting with the police while trying to free the captured leaders.

Dinajpur Kotwali Police Station OC Nurannabi said that all five were arrested in a kidnapping and ransom demand case and sent to the district jail through the court on Tuesday.

The arrested are Arif Moon, the central organizing secretary of the National Jubo Shakti, Hasin Israk Mim, 22, Minaj, 29, Prem, 22, and Hridoy Islam, 22, who the police claim are members of the Dinajpur district committee of the NCP.

Police said that Abdus Samad, 58, a resident of Khosalpur village in Sadar upazila, was picked up from his house on Sunday night. Then, a ransom of Tk15 lakh was demanded from his family. Later, his son Md. Mamun was called to the microbus stand at Gor-e-Shahid Boro Math in the city on Monday afternoon, promising to release Samad in exchange for Tk4 lakh. Police conducted a raid there on receiving the information.

According to the police, Samad was rescued from a private car during the raid and Arif Moon and Hasin Israk Mim were caught red-handed from the spot.

Police also said that after the detained leaders were taken to the police station, some leaders and activists of NCP and Jubo Shakti came to rescue them. At that time, a scuffle also took place with some police personnel. Minaj, Prem and Hridoy Islam were later arrested in the incident.

Abdus Samad's son Md. Mamun filed a case with the Kotwali police station on Monday night in this incident. The case has named five people and named 10 to 12 unidentified people as accused.

When news of the incident spread, leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliates took up positions at the Kotwali police station on Monday night and demanded punishment for those involved. Later, when tension arose, the police said that the NCP supporters were removed from the police station area.

OC Nurannabi said, "Initially, it has been learned that there is a matter related to money transactions. A case has been registered based on the complaint. The matter will be clear after the investigation."

Meanwhile, the district NCP convener Shamsul Muktadir claimed that the arrested Hasin Israk Mim is not a member of the district committee. He said, "There should be an impartial investigation according to the law. If someone has committed a crime, he should be punished."