Sergeant stops rules-breaking pickup of ASP

An assistant superintendent of police in Chittagong was withdrawn for allegedly verbally abusing a traffic sergeant who stopped his vehicle while wrong-way driving on Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Highway around noon yesterday.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Minutes before the incident, Mashiur Rahman, ASP of Mirsharai Circle of Chittagong District Police, allegedly vandalised two toll booths in a fit of rage and assaulted three employees of the toll plaza of Shah Amanat Bridge.

Traffic Sergeant Jalil Mia of Chittagong Metropolitan Police said he stopped a pickup truck of police going on to the wrong side of the busy road in Maijjartek Cattle Market area.

“Getting down from the vehicle in plainclothes, the ASP sir asked me why I stopped his car without permission and who gave me the power to do that,” the officer told The Daily Star.

“When I told him about traffic congestion on the road, he started verbally abusing me. After a while he left, continuing to be on the wrong side of the road. I reported it to my high-ups later and filed a general diary in this connection,” Jalil said.

Noor E Alam, superintendent of police in Chittagong, said, “ASP Mashiur Rahman was closed to the district police headquarters and relieved of all duties.

“After learning about the incident, I informed the Police Headquarters and asked an additional superintendent of police to investigate the incident.”

The SP added that action will be taken after the probe.

Seeking anonymity, a police officer said Sergeant Jalil and a constable were managing traffic when the ASP's pickup truck, heading for Patiya upazila, came. After they stopped the vehicle, the ASP came out of the vehicle and started abusing Jalil.

Minutes before the incident, Mashiur allegedly beaten up two toll collectors and an engineer of the toll plaza of Shah Amanat Bridge.

Apurbo Shaha, in-charge of the toll plaza, said, “The ASP came at the toll plaza around 11:45am. His pickup was in the queue with three other vehicles. But suddenly the ASP came out of the vehicle with a baton and started vandalising toll booths and beating up our employees.

“We have the CCTV footage of the incident and lodged a complaint with Karnaphuli Police Station,” said Apurbo.