Six Arrested in Chatmohar Drug Raid Amid Allegations of Extortion and Vandalism

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) arrested six suspected drug dealers and users during a raid in Chatmohar on Thursday morning. However, the operation has sparked controversy, with families of the accused alleging that DNC officials vandalized their homes, assaulted suspects, and embezzled cash during the search. Officials have categorically denied the claims.

Acting on a tip-off, DNC officials conducted the raid in Amritkunda village of Mulgram Union. According to the DNC, they arrested a known drug dealer, Fazlur Rahman (alias Ghora Fazlu), along with five others. Officials reported seizing 200 grams of marijuana and Tk 1,32,960 in cash from Fazlur’s residence.

Following the raid, Chatmohar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Executive Magistrate Musa Naser Chowdhury sentenced the five suspected drug users to one-month suspended prison terms. A regular case under the Narcotics Control Act was filed against Fazlur Rahman at Chatmohar Police Station, and all six men were subsequently sent to Pabna Jail.

The arrested individuals are Fazlur Rahman (50) and his son Russell (25) of Amritkunda; Anwar Hossain (72) of the same area; Zakir Khandaker (43) of Sahapur; Manik Hossain (40) of Kubirdia; and Liton (53) of Chandpur village under Sirajganj’s Ullapara Police Station.

Families Allege Misconduct

Locals and family members have raised severe allegations regarding the conduct of the DNC officials. Shamsunnahar, Fazlur Rahman's wife, told reporters that the raiding party ransacked their home and stole a total of Tk 3 lakh—Tk 2.5 lakh from the house and Tk 40,000 from her husband's pocket.

Amena Khatun, daughter of 72-year-old arrestee Anwar Hossain, claimed her father was targeted unfairly. "My father is a Lalon devotee and was sitting peacefully at the local Lalon Academy," she said. "He does not consume marijuana. The officials demanded money, and when he refused, they beat him and dragged him away despite his old age."

A local resident, Hasi Khatun, corroborated that several men were detained from the Lalon Academy on sheer suspicion, adding that officials also confiscated money from a neighboring house.

DNC Denies Allegations

Abdur Rahim, Inspector of the DNC in Pabna, dismissed the accusations as fabricated.

"These claims are entirely false. Fazlu is a notorious drug dealer who usually avoids arrest by paying people off," Inspector Rahim stated. "We conducted a targeted raid and caught him red-handed. Because he refused to open the gate, we had to force it open to enter, but no homes were vandalized."

Addressing the financial allegations, Rahim added, "The claim about embezzling Tk 3 lakh is baseless. We recovered exactly Tk 1,32,960. The money was counted and officially seized in the presence of multiple witnesses."