Irfan, his bodyguard jailed

A Rapid Action Battalion mobile court has sentenced Irfan Selim, son of MP Haji Selim, and his bodyguard Mohammed Jahid to a year in jail for the unlawful possession of walkie-talkies and liquor.

The punishment was handed down after their arrests during a raid on Haji Selim's home in Old Dhaka's Soarighat on Monday.

Earlier on Monday a team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Mohammad Erfan Selim, councillor of Ward-30 under the Dhaka South City Corporation, on charge of assaulting a navy officer.

RAB arrested Erfan, also son of parliament member Haji Selim, from his residence in the city's Lalbagh, said RAB Director (legal and media wing) Lt Colonel Ashique Billah.

RAB executive magistrate SarwarAlam handed down the sentence.

During the raid, RAB members recovered 38 walkie-talkies, six litres of contraband foreign liquor and 400 pieces of yaba tablet.

RAB also found a 'suspected' torture cell adjacent to Haji Selim's residence which might have been operated by Erfan, Mr Billah said.

However, Haji Selim was not present at his residence during the drive.

RAB-3 and RAB-10 launched the raid at Haji Selim's residence around 12:30 pm and arrested Erfan following a case filed by navy officer Lieutenant Wasif Ahmad against seven people including Erfan.

According to the case statement, the navy officer was physically beaten by Erfan and his associates on Sunday evening near Labaid Hospital in Dhanmondi.

Mr Ahmad was riding a bike with his wife to go to Kalabagan and MrErfan's SUV hit the bike from behind.

As the navy officer protested the incident, Erfan's associates assaulted him physically even after knowing his identity, according to the case statement.

A video on Facebook also went viral on Sunday night where Lieutenant Ahmad was seen protesting the assault on him before the crowd against Mr Erfan and his aides.

The RAB director said the elite force will file two more cases against the accused -- one for possessing illegal firearm and another for drugs.

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