Rab personnel, trying to stop truck carrying drugs, gets run over and dies

A Rab personnel was killed after a truck belonging to suspected drug peddlers ran him over while he was trying to intercept the vehicle for checking in Mymensingh early today.

The deceased Idris Molla, 28, a constable of Bangladesh police, was deputed to the elite force in May 2019.

The incident took place when a Rab-1 team set up a check point in Porabari area in Gazipur around 5:30 am on information that a consignment of 30 kg cannabis was being taken to Mymensingh, Lt Col Ashique Billah, Rab's legal and media wing director, said.

During the search, a truck refused to listen to Rab's signal to stop and instead tried to speed away. Constable Idris and Deputy Assistant Director Golam Mostafa, on a motorcycle, chased the truck, he said.

The "drug peddlers" then attempted to kill the Rab members, throwing a sack of cannabis at their moving motorcycle. They, however, remained unhurt and pillion rider Mostafa got down and seized the drug.

Idris alone started chasing the truck up to Bhaluka in Mymensingh. As he tried to intercept the truck opposite the Coca-Cola factory there, the truck driver ran him over and sped way. 

Idris died on the spot, Rab officials said. 

Law enforcers later seized the truck from Bhaluka area but the truck driver and others fled away.

Rab filed a murder case with Bhaluka Police Station in this regard.

Idris joined Bangladesh Police in 2011.

Rab handed Tk 1 lakh to the deceased's wife and Tk 50,000 to his father.

According to Rab, at least 27 Rab members were killed and more than 500 others were injured during drives so far.