Mob attacks police, frees convict after false mosque loudspeaker announcement in Jashore

Rumours of police killing the convict during a raid leads to villagers assaulting three officers

Three police officers have been injured in a raid that went awry, as a convict’s "associates" snatched the criminal away after circulating “false announcements” from a mosque loudspeaker in Jashore’s Keshabpur Upazila.

The incident took place on the early hours of Thursday, said Keshabpur Police Inspector (investigation) Shahidul Islam.

He said a team from the police station arrested Jahangir Alam, a convict in three cases, around 1:30am.

“Immediately afterwards, an announcement from a mosque’s loudspeaker said police killed [Jahangir],” he said.

Responding to the announcement, 50 to 60 people rushed there, assaulted the officers, and took Jahangir away from their custody, Shahidul added.

Constable Shahidul Islam is being treated at Keshabpur Upazila Health Complex, he said, adding that the other injured officers are Sub-Inspector Asmat Ali and Constable Habibullah.

Despite the setback, police managed to arrest Jahangir again around 11:30am.