Crowd forces sub-inspector to stand holding ears in Rajshahi

An angry crowd allegedly forced a police sub-inspector to stand holding his ears following a road accident in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi. At the same time, the officer-in-charge of Belpukur police station was reportedly confined for nearly an hour.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Gaziur Rahman confirmed the incident to the media on Monday afternoon.

According to police and local sources, a passenger bus hit an auto-rickshaw on the Rajshahi–Natore highway in the Pallapukur area of the upazila on Sunday evening. A student of Barendra University was killed on the spot, while at least seven others were injured. Later, one man and one woman died while undergoing treatment at hospital.

Following the accident, fellow students of the deceased and local residents blocked the highway, alleging that police had helped the bus driver flee the scene.

When the officer-in-charge of Belpukur police station arrived at the spot with police personnel, protesters surrounded them. Police members remained confined for nearly an hour. During this time, the crowd allegedly hurled abuse at the OC and forced a sub-inspector to stand holding his ears.

However, RMP spokesperson Gaziur Rahman said the bus driver fled before police reached the scene, leaving the bus at a filling station immediately after the accident. He said police personnel were trapped due to rumours spreading among the crowd.

He added that police members were later rescued safely after about an hour. The bus involved in the accident has been seized, and preparations are underway to file a case with police as the complainant. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the absconding driver.