A police official has been suspended after physically assaulting a child over an alleged lighter theft in the Tigerpass area of Chittagong city.
The incident came to light when a video capturing the assault went viral on social media on Sunday.
The accused official, identified as Shaukat Hossain, serves as a wrecker driver for the traffic department of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP). The incident occurred near a shop next to a traffic box at around 11am.
The 30-second video showed the policeman gripping the collar of the 13-year-old victim and repeatedly slapping him, even as onlookers pleaded for him to stop. The footage also revealed that constable Shaukat had a lit cigarette in his mouth while viciously assaulting the child.
According to local sources, the child, who works on a daily wage basis, resides in a slum in the Tigerpass area with his mother and brother. He had been employed by shopkeepers in the area and had received formal work in exchange for tips. The child also slept in the nearby traffic box, which he did on Saturday night. The following morning, while sitting at a tea shop owned by Milon in the area, he was confronted and assaulted by Shaukat, who accused him of stealing a lighter.
In response to the incident, Spina Rani Pramanik, the additional deputy commissioner for media and public relations of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, confirmed the suspension of the accused official.
She stated that the higher authorities took immediate action upon learning about the incident and promptly dismissed him from duty.
An assistant commissioner from the motor vehicle department has been appointed to investigate the matter, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.
Shaukat Hossain was not available for comment regarding the incident.
The incident has sparked concerns about police brutality and the mistreatment of vulnerable individuals. Netizens are calling for a thorough investigation and appropriate disciplinary measures to ensure justice for the child victim and prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.