Detective Branch (DB) and Kaliganj police have given conflicting accounts over the arrest of a sweetmeat businessman from Hatibandha’s Tushbhandar.
Debdas Roy Babul, owner of Jatin and Sons Mishtanna Bhandar, 58, was picked up by DB from the Lalmonirhat District and Sessions Judge Court premises on Monday afternoon while attending a hearing in a land-related case, his lawyer said.
DB Officer-in-Charge Roushan Kabir said Babul was taken into custody as police feared he could face a mob attack on the court premises.
However, later Kaliganj police said Babul was arrested in front of the BGB canteen in Lalmonirhat town in connection with an anti-terrorism case filed at Kaliganj Police Station about a year ago.
Kaliganj Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Osman Gani said he could not immediately recall details of the case.
Babul’s lawyer claimed that a local influential group was trying to occupy 40 percent of his client’s land, worth around Tk 5 crore, and that a related case was pending in court.
Lalmonirhat Police Superintendent Md Asaduzzaman said Babul’s involvement had been found during the investigation of the anti-terrorism case filed a year ago.
He also said police would take legal action if anyone tried to enter the disputed land in Babul’s absence.