A retired police officer was allegedly tied up and beaten with an iron rod after a group of masked, armed men broke into a local elected representative’s home in Patiya, Chattogram, and stole cash and gold jewellery.
The incident took place at around 1am on Thursday in Chakrashala village of Kachuai Union, Patiya upazila. The victim, 78-year-old Babul Bhattacharjee, is the uncle of local Union Parishad member Prabir Bhattacharjee and a former sub-inspector of police.
According to the victims and their relatives, no one from Prabir Bhattacharjee’s immediate family was at home at the time. His daughter had recently given birth and the family was staying at a clinic in Chattogram city. Babul Bhattacharjee lived in a room next to Prabir’s house.
The attackers reportedly arrived at the house during the night and attempted to enter by breaking or cutting the lock on the main door. Babul noticed their presence and came outside to see what was happening.
He was then allegedly confronted by seven to eight masked men carrying weapons. The group reportedly took him hostage and forced him into Prabir’s room. There, they tied his hands and feet with rope and assaulted him with an iron rod.
The attackers then searched the house and allegedly broke open a cupboard before taking approximately six bhori of gold jewellery and around Tk 750,000 in cash.
Prabir Bhattacharjee said that about Tk 400,000 of the stolen money had been withdrawn from a bank just two days earlier to purchase land. The remaining cash had already been kept at the house.
He said his uncle was living next door and was attacked after discovering the intruders. The family later found Babul injured after the attackers had left.
Babul Bhattacharjee described the incident as a sudden attack. He said he saw several armed men standing in the courtyard after coming outside at night, but before he could understand what was happening, they took control of him and began beating him.
He said the attackers were wearing masks and that he suffered swelling and injuries to his head and other parts of his body. The group allegedly released him after completing the robbery and fled the area.
Babul was taken to Patiya Upazila Health Complex in the early hours of Thursday for treatment. Sama Binte Shafiul, a doctor in the emergency department, said the patient had visible signs of injury to his head. No other serious injuries were found during the initial examination, and he was given first aid before being released.
Police visited the house after receiving information about the incident. Patiya police station officer-in-charge Ziaul Haque said the initial assessment suggested that the incident might have been a case of theft, although the circumstances were still being investigated.
The reported loss includes a significant amount of cash and gold jewellery, while the alleged assault on a 78-year-old former police officer has added another serious dimension to the incident. Police are examining the circumstances surrounding the break-in and the allegations of assault as part of their investigation.
