Cop sued for selling stolen motorbikes

A sub-inspector along with his “aide” allegedly forged documents and signature of a magistrate and sold 23 stolen motorbikes at so-called auctions at Birganj Police Station in Dinajpur.

The bikes had been recovered at different times in the past.

The accused are SI Jahangir Hossain, who has recently been transferred to Rajshahi from the police station, and his “cohort” Abu Syeed, who is said to be a notorious bike thief in Birganj.

On May 9, two cases were filed against the duo with the chief judicial magistrate's court and the senior chief judicial magistrate's court in Dinajpur over the matter.

The case with the chief judicial magistrate was filed by Mamun Hossain, a staff at the court, while the other lawsuit was lodged by Abdul Gaffar, a local who bought five of the stolen bikes at an “auction”.

In his case, Gaffar, the plaintiff, said the accused sold 23 seized motorcycles using fake documents and seals and signature of a magistrate at “auctions” at the police station during the last six months.

Following consultation with the officer-in-charge of the police station, Gaffar bought five of the bikes for Tk 5.6 lakh.

The SI gave him the papers the next day of the purchase, Gaffar told The Daily Star.

However on April 14, Birganj police seized one of the bikes, suspecting that its papers were fake.

Later on, the papers were sent to the chief judicial magistrate's court and there it was found that those were indeed fake, said Gaffar.

SI Jahangir and his aide pocketed several lakh taka selling the 23 motorcycles illegally, according to the victims.

However, sources at the police station said the number would be around 60.

Birganj police have already seized four motorcycles sold at the so-called auctions, added the sources.

On March 3, SI Jahangir was transferred to Godagari Police Station in Rajshahi.

Talking to The Daily Star, he, however, termed the allegation against him “false” and claimed that Sayeed was in fact a close aide of the Birganj Police Station OC.

He declined to make any further comments.  

Contacted, the Birganj OC said he would not comment on the matter as it was under investigation.

Ruhul Amin, superintendent of police in Dinajpur, said a three-member probe team led by Mizanur Rahman, additional SP of the district, was formed on May 8 to investigate the matter.

The committee was asked to submit its report within 15 working days, he added.