An allegation has been raised against two traffic policemen in Gazipur of extorting Tk2,000 from a farmer by threatening to file a false case against him.
The aggrieved farmer, Gias Uddin Sarkar, 45, hailing from Sreepur upazila, filed a written complaint with the inspector general of police on Monday (IGP) seeking justice.
The incident took place on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Jaina Bazar of Sreepur upazila around 9:30am on Friday.
The accused policemen are traffic police sergeants Mehdi, 42, and his associate Ataur Rahman, 45.
In the written complaint, Gias Uddin claimed that he was going to his home in Godarchala after buying wood in the Baldighat area of Kauraid union of the upazila after renting a pickup. At around 9:30am, when he reached Jaina Bazar, Mehdi and Ataur intercepted his pickup, before checking the vehicle documents.
Though all the papers were okay, they demanded Tk2,000 from him.
They also said they would not allow him to take the wood home if he did not pay up.
As the farmer refused to pay the extortion money, they threatened to file a false case against him.
Sergeant Mehdi said many policemen perform duty together, and he could not remember the incident.
“How is it possible to demand extortion money without any reason?” he asked.
Gazipur Superintendent of Police (SP) Kazi Shafiqul Alam said he has not received any such complaint, adding that it may come to his office later.
“I will take action if the allegations are proven during the investigation,” said the SP.