Badda OC withdrawn, seven policemen suspended

Thirty rounds ammunition and other belongings of the on-duty police personnel, stationed at the Sri Sri Mahadev Ashram and Kali Temple at Nimtoli, Badda in the capital, were stolen early Tuesday.

The incident triggered immediate disciplinary measures from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). Subsequently, Badda Police Station's Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Saiful Islam was withdrawn, while seven others, including a sub-inspector (SI), an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), and five constables, were suspended on charges of delinquency of duty.

Police later confirmed that the stolen cartridges had been recovered, while three suspects were under interrogation.

Md Tarek Mahmud, DC of DMP Gulshan, said negligence of duty led to the incident. The OC was withdrawn, and disciplinary actions were taken against the others involved.

The police personnel were deployed to ensure security of the temple during the Durga Puja celebration. They were provided temporary accommodation inside an under-construction building on the temple premises.

While four policemen and three Ansar members were asleep, four bags, two wallets, and three mobile phones were stolen from their quarters at a time between 4:30 am and 5:30 am. One of the stolen bags contained 30 shotgun cartridges. By around 9:45 am, the missing items were located on a deserted plot near the temple compound, with the ammunition found untouched.

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