In Putia, an angry crowd made a police officer stand by his ear

Rajshahi, 26 January: Tensions flared in Putia Upazila, Rajshahi, yesterday following a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of three people and left several others injured. Angered locals reportedly restrained a police officer by holding him by the ear, while obstructing the acting officer-in-charge of Belpukur Police Station, as protests intensified.

The Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) confirmed the incident earlier today. Spokesperson Gaziur Rahman told The Daily Star that police had been caught in the turmoil triggered by the accident.

The chain of events began on Sunday evening in the Pallapukur area along the Rajshahi–Natore Highway, when a passenger bus collided with an auto-rickshaw. At the scene, a student from Varendra University was killed instantly, while at least seven others sustained injuries. Tragically, two more victims—a man and a woman—succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.

Following the accident, furious classmates of the deceased and local residents blocked the highway, demanding justice. Protesters alleged that the police had aided the bus driver in fleeing the scene.

According to sources, when the Belpukur Police team, led by the acting officer-in-charge, arrived at the scene, demonstrators detained the officers for nearly an hour. During this period, the acting officer was verbally abused, and a sub-inspector was reportedly held by the ear by the crowd—a shocking act of defiance against law enforcement.

Gaziur Rahman explained, “The bus driver had already fled before police arrived, abandoning the vehicle at a nearby filling station immediately after the collision. A rumour circulated among the crowd, which led to police being temporarily trapped.”

He added that the officers were eventually rescued after approximately one hour. The bus involved in the collision has since been seized, and the RMP is preparing to file a case related to the road accident. Efforts are underway to apprehend the driver.

Incident Summary Table

The incident has raised serious concerns over public safety, crowd behaviour, and the responsibilities of law enforcement during emergencies. Authorities have urged calm, assuring that a thorough investigation will ensure accountability for both the accident and subsequent disturbances.