4 held for beating freelancer, female friend in Rajshahi

Police on Sunday night arrested four youths in Rajshahi city on charge of assaulting a freelancer and his female friend physically for extortion.

The arrested are Sajjadur Rahman, 25, Hasanur Rahman Rabbi, 25, Rakib Hasan, 28, and Sani Rahman, 30.

Sabina Yeasmin, additional deputy police commissioner of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, said that victim Uttam Baroi, a resident of Gopalganj district, used to live at a rented house in Boro Bongram Raypara area in Rajshahi city.

She said that Uttam’s female friend came to meet him at his house for an urgent matter at around 4:30pm on Sunday.

Minutes after the female friend entered the house, the accused forcibly stormed into Uttam’s house with locally made weapons, she added.

‘The accused first took away mobile phones and money in cash from Uttam and his female friend, and then demanded a ransom of Tk five lakh,’ Sabina said, adding that when they refused to pay, the accused physically assaulted them and vandalised household items.

The police official said that the accused also took personal photos and videos of Baroi’s female friend and threatened to spread them on social media.

‘The accused also reportedly made inappropriate gestures towards the female friend, and at one point they physically assaulted her and attempted to rape her,’ she said.

Later, Uttam managed to call 999 through a colleague, prompting the police to arrive quickly and rescue the victims, Sabina said, adding that sensing the presence of the police, the accused destroyed evidence and fled the scene.

After a case was lodged with Shah Makhdum police station, police arrested the accused and recovered a toy pistol, a knife, and various items, including the mobile phones, a camera, and stamps that were snatched from the victims.