5 lakh taka toll demanded, Chatra Dal leader arrested

Police have arrested two persons including a former leader of district Chatra Dal on the allegation of demanding Tk 5 lakh as toll by stopping a truck loaded with cumin on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Bahubal of Habiganj.

They were arrested from Mirpur area of the upazila on Saturday (September 12). The arrested persons are former Joint Organizing Secretary of district Chhatra Dal Helal Mahaldar and Belal Mia. Helal is the son of Khorshed Mia of West Jaipur village. The other person Belal is a resident of Mamdanagar village of the upazila.

Police informed that on Saturday morning a person named Md Obaidullah bought 171 bags of Indian cumin through government auction. Later while taking the cumin in a truck when it reached Mirpur area of Bahubal the speed of the truck was obstructed.

Allegation remains that Helal Mahaldar stopped the truck and kept it behind a petrol pump. After that his associates demanded Tk 5 lakh from Obaidullah over mobile phone. It is also alleged that it was informed that the cumin-loaded truck would not be released if the money was not given.

When the matter was informed to Bahubal police station police conducted a drive and arrested Helal and Belal from the spot. Later on the basis of the information given by them the cumin-loaded truck was recovered from Bhugli area of the upazila.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bahubal police station Md Ruhul Amin Talukdar said legal measures are being taken against the two arrested in this incident. The drive of police to identify and arrest others involved with the incident is ongoing.