11 remanded over shopping complex vandalism in Uttara

Bangla Press Desk:   A Dhaka court on Tuesday granted a two-day remand for 11 accused each in a case filed over vandalism at a shopping complex in Uttara, allegedly triggered by rumours of a rickshaw puller being beaten to death.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin passed the order after the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Md Sumon Mia of Uttara West Police Station, produced them before the court, seeking a seven-day remand.The accused are – Md Monir Alam, 32, Md Mujibur Rahman, 20, Md Hridoy, 19, Md Manjurul, 32, Md Mahabbat Ali, 18, Shah Paran, 19, Md Shakil, 19, Md Rashidul Islam alias A Rashid, 27, Md Saju, 24, Md Liton, 24, and Jihad, 19.

According to the case statement, around 9:30pm on 15 March, an altercation broke out between a rickshaw puller and a security guard in front of a shopping complex on Sonargaon Janapad Road in Sector 13 under Uttara West Police Station.

At one stage, the rickshaw puller, along with 15-20 others, allegedly attacked the security personnel and staff of the complex, leaving them seriously injured.

Later, rumours spread surrounding the incident, prompting around 600-700 agitated people armed with sticks and iron rods to attack the shopping complex. They vandalised glass panels on the ground and first floors.

The accused allegedly looted goods worth Tk10 lakh from a store and imitation jewellery worth Tk5 lakh from a jewellery shop in the shopping complex.

The mob also allegedly hurled brickbats at law enforcers and set fire to materials on the road when police and army personnel arrived at the scene to bring the situation under control.

The incident reportedly caused damage worth around Tk9 crore. 

A case was filed on 16 March with the police station by Ariful Islam, an electrician of the shopping complex.

Source: daily Sun

BP/SP