Traffic Box Attackers Aimed to Damage Image, Morale of Police

The multiple attacks on traffic police boxes and police in the capital's Mirpur and Pallabi areas on Friday were pre-planned, with the aim of breaking the morale of the police.

Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) was able to disclose this much after they arrested nine people raiding Mirpur on Saturday in connection with the incidents.

Earlier on Friday night, police filed a case with Pallabi police station in connection with the incident.

Local thana police arrested eight people on Friday itself. With the arrest of nine Saturday, the number of arrested in the case rose to 17.

Around 25-30 auto-rickshaw drivers resorted to attacking on-duty Traffic police Mizanur when he detained a battery-powered rickshaw in front of Adarsha School of Mirpur No. 10 on Friday morning. At one stage, they attacked Mirpur traffic police box number 10. Later, the battery operated rickshaw pullers unitedly attacked a few traffic police boxes including Mirpur number 12, Kalshi, Purvi and Shagufta.

The arrestees were identified as Johnny Islam, Russell Mia, Suruj, Md. Akter, Shamser Uddin, Md. Rony, Md. Kalim, Masud Rana and Md. Sam.

Briefing reporters at DMP media centre on Saturday afternoon, Additional Commissioner (DB) Harun or Rashid said during preliminary interrogation, the arrestees revealed that they were involved in the attack on the instigation of some 'elder brothers'. The motive, they said, was to damage the image of the police, and breaking their morale.

The DB chief said that traffic policemen were working to implement a High Court order banning battery-operated rickshaws. It wasn't a decision taken by the traffic police - they were merely following orders. Yet they (traffic police) were attacked after spreading falsehoods that some traffic police had beat up an elderly and disabled battery-operated rickshaw driver.

The illegal rickshaw owners, drivers and those involved in the pea trade fueled the attack by spreading tension. Many involved in the attacks and provocations immediately went into hiding outside Dhaka, Harun said.