Police Officers Humiliated, Detained by Mob Following Deadly Crash in Puthia

The incident of detaining the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Belpukur Police Station and a Sub-Inspector (SI) and forcing them to hold their ears following a horrific road accident in Puthia of Rajshahi has sparked nationwide discussion. After videos and photos of the incident spread on social media, renewed concerns have emerged regarding the law and order situation and mob violence.

On Sunday at around 5:30 pm, in the Pollapukur area of Puthia, a passenger bus heading toward Rajshahi ran over an auto-rickshaw coming from the opposite direction and fled the scene. Barendra University student Shanto Islam (22) was killed on the spot. Later, Sumaiya Akter Brishti (30) and an unidentified person died after being taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in critical condition. As news of the three deaths spread, intense anger erupted among local residents and students.

Following the accident, from evening onward, students of Barendra University and local people blocked the Rajshahi–Dhaka highway. The road blockade continued for nearly four hours, creating severe traffic congestion over several kilometers. When Belpukur Police Station OC Md. Arjun and SI Subash Chandra Barman arrived at the scene to control the situation, local people confined them inside a tin shed and forced them to stand holding their ears for a long time.

At the time, the crowd alleged that police had detained and then released the driver of a Rajkio Paribahan bus. However, police said the allegation was not correct. According to police, after the accident the bus was left at a filling station three kilometers away and the driver fled, and the police were not informed of the incident at that time.

As the situation became more tense, additional police forces arrived at the scene, but they were also confined by the crowd. At around 9:30 pm, the army and additional police reached the area and dispersed the crowd using batons, rescuing the confined police personnel. During this time, some people allegedly threw bricks and stones at the police and army.

City police spokesperson Md. Gaziur Rahman said that a group spread misinformation, incited the crowd, and mentally humiliated the two police officers. AC Sohel Rana said that a case is being filed in connection with the incident and legal action will be taken against those who formed a mob and detained police officers.

The incident has reignited debate over the tendency to take the law into one’s own hands and the violent expression of anger following road accidents.