Police Officer Beaten During Clashes in Kalshi; Allegations of Firearm Snatching Emerge

PNN News Desk | Dhaka

A police officer was allegedly surrounded and assaulted by a group of protesters during clashes between garment workers and police in the Kalshi area of Mirpur in the capital on Tuesday. Eyewitnesses also claimed that the officer's firearm was snatched during the incident and thrown onto the road.

The injured officer, identified as Md. Saimon, is currently receiving treatment at the Central Police Hospital in Rajarbagh. He is posted at Pallabi Police Station.

The incident took place around 11:00 am on Tuesday (November 3) in front of a supermarket on Kalshi Road, approximately 200 metres from the Mirpur-11 Metro Rail Station.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pallabi Police Station, Jalal Uddin, confirmed the incident. He said the injured police officer had been taken to the Central Police Hospital in Rajarbagh for medical treatment.

A woman living in a nearby building reportedly recorded a video of the clashes from her balcony. Speaking on condition of anonymity, she said police had chased protesters in an attempt to disperse them, during which several police personnel became trapped in the crowd of demonstrators.

According to her account, protesters began throwing bricks and other objects at police officers from different directions. As the situation became increasingly difficult to control, several officers attempted to move away from the crowd. However, one officer was surrounded by a group of protesters, who allegedly began beating him.

The woman further claimed that the officer was knocked to the ground and assaulted. During the attack, some individuals allegedly snatched his firearm.

She said that after the incident, several people helped rescue the injured officer and directed him towards the Mirpur-11 Metro Station.

An employee of the supermarket near the scene also said he witnessed the assault on the police officer.

According to the employee, several individuals suddenly knocked the officer to the ground and began beating him. As the situation escalated, shop employees pulled down the shutters and moved upstairs for their own safety.

He said they could not see what happened after that.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Towhidul Arif of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Public Order Management (POM) South Division told journalists that they did not yet have detailed information about the reported assault on the officer.

He said they would look into the matter and provide further information later.

Earlier on Tuesday, clashes between garment workers and police began at around 10:30 am and continued until approximately 11:15 am, spreading tension throughout the area.

However, according to the latest information available at the time, the situation in Kalshi had returned to calm. Traffic movement on both sides of the road had also begun returning to normal.