Police on Sunday arrested Barisal Jatiya Party (JaPa) leader Advocate AKM Mortuza Abedin for brandishing his licensed firearm during a clash with local Sramik League men.
A video of the incident went viral on social media.
Five hours later, the leader was released by the police while his weapon remained with the police.
Sramik League leader Raiz Ahmed said Mortuza hurled abusive words at him at the local land office earlier in the day without any provocation. He also brandished his gun and pointed it to Raiz, according to the Sramik League leader’s statement. Later, he was detained by the police.
Kotwali model police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Anwar Hossain said Advocate Mortuza Abedin was brought into police custody from near Hotel Swagotom. They are currently examining the available video footage of the incident.
However, Advocate Mortuza Abedin denied the allegation brought against him and said he was physically abused by Raiz at the land office. In his defense he held out his weapon. But Raiz’s men started dragging him into a three-wheeler. At the time, police came and took him in their custody.
