A young man in Jessore was hospitalised after a police official hit him hard with the butt of a rifle on Saturday evening for not stopping a motorbike that he was riding.
Abu Sayeed, 30, was admitted to Jessore General Hospital and was said to be in a critical condition.
The incident, which took place in Shankarpur, angered locals, who surrounded Constable Rokon and refused to let him leave the scene.
Police later arrived and calmed the mob before rescuing Rokon.
Golam Mostafa, a local Awami League leader, said Sayeed was a pillion passenger of the motorcycle and the vehicle was crossing a police checkpoint near a poultry farm in Shankarpur when a policeman signalled the driver to stop.
“But Constable Rokon hit Sayeed with the butt of his rifle when the driver defied the order to stop. Sayeed fell on the ground and locals took him to hospital,” he said.
Sayeed said he was returning from Jessore town after purchasing automotive parts and the policeman hit him before the driver stopped the motorbike.
Liton Hossain, assistant superintendent of police, said the motorcycle driver did not care to stop the vehicle and fled. “We suspect that he is in possession of firearms and ammunition.”
He also said Sayeed fell from the motorbike and sustained injuries.
Jessore Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge Shikder Akkas Ali also described it as an accident.
“We will carry out an investigation to know what really happened. Any policeman, if found guilty, will be disciplined,” he added.
