A sub-inspector (SI) of police has been withdrawn and attached to the Habiganj Police Lines following allegations that he took a mobile phone belonging to a fruit vendor in Ajmiriganj upazila.
The officer, identified as Russell Mia, was attached to the Habiganj Police Lines on Monday (August 10).
The incident allegedly took place at around 8:49pm on Saturday (August 8) at a fruit shop owned by Rajib Ahmed in Ajmiriganj Bazar.
CCTV footage reportedly shows SI Russell entering the shop and purchasing guava and lotkon, a tropical fruit.
According to the footage, the officer remained at the shop for about five minutes after purchasing the fruit. During that time, a black smartphone belonging to Rajib Ahmed was lying on a table.
At one point, SI Russell placed a file he was carrying and his own red mobile phone on top of the shopkeeper's phone. The footage then appears to show him putting both phones into his pocket while talking.
He subsequently continued talking to the shopkeeper for about another minute while holding the bag of fruit before leaving the shop.
After failing to find his phone shortly afterward, Rajib Ahmed reviewed the shop's CCTV footage. He said the footage appeared to show SI Russell taking the phone.
Rajib claimed that he later asked the SI to return the phone. Russell initially denied taking it, he said. After Rajib mentioned the CCTV footage, Russell allegedly gave him Tk 15,000 late at night instead of returning the phone.
“I was told at night that SI Russell had lost my mobile phone after taking it. He gave me Tk 15,000 because of this,” Rajib Ahmed said.
Several local traders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the officer's movements in the CCTV footage led them to believe that he deliberately stayed in the shop for some time before allegedly taking the phone.
SI Russell Mia could not be reached for comment. Several calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.
Ajmiriganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Akbar Hossain said he had seen the CCTV footage. He said the shopkeeper had not filed a written complaint and that SI Russell had paid Tk 15,000 after losing the mobile phone.
“The incident has tarnished the image of the police,” the OC said.
After the matter was reported to senior police authorities, SI Russell was attached to the Habiganj Police Lines on Monday.
