Mosque Call Sparks Police Assault

A dramatic incident in Keshabpur upazila of Jessore district saw a convicted fugitive snatched from police custody after officers were violently attacked by a local mob allegedly mobilised through a mosque loudspeaker announcement. The episode occurred on Wednesday night in Hijaldanga village and has since prompted a swift counter-operation by law enforcement.

According to police accounts, a team from Keshabpur Police Station had gone to arrest Jahangir Hossain, a convicted absconding offender, when the situation rapidly escalated. Jahangir is the son of Alimuddin from a nearby village and had been sentenced in connection with two separate cases—one involving narcotics and another a domestic dispute. He had been awarded a cumulative sentence of two years and three months.

Police stated that during the attempted arrest, Jahangir’s brothers, Alamin and Liton, allegedly used the mosque’s public address system to call on villagers to resist the police operation. They reportedly claimed that the police had killed Jahangir, a message that quickly inflamed tensions in the area.

Following the announcement, a group of approximately 50 to 60 local residents gathered at the scene. The crowd then attacked the police team, which included Sub-Inspector Asmat Ali, Constables Shahidul Islam and Habibullah. All three officers sustained injuries during the assault. Amid the chaos, the mob succeeded in snatching the detainee from police custody and fleeing the scene with him.

Law enforcement officials later described the incident as a serious obstruction of justice and an organised attempt to undermine a lawful arrest. Authorities immediately launched a search operation to locate the fugitive and identify those involved in the attack.

Within hours, police conducted a special operation on Thursday morning at around 11:00 am in a village under Dumuria upazila. During this operation, Jahangir Hossain was successfully re-arrested, bringing an end to his brief escape.

Officials have confirmed that legal proceedings are being prepared against those involved in attacking the police and inciting violence through misinformation.

Incident Overview

The incident has raised renewed concerns about the misuse of religious institutions for spreading misinformation and the growing risks faced by law enforcement personnel during field operations in rural areas. Authorities have indicated that strict legal action will be taken against all individuals found responsible for the attack and the orchestration of the escape.