Police arrested four Union Parishad (UP) chairmen in Melandah, Jamalpur, on Wednesday afternoon after they left the monthly law and order committee meeting at the Melandah Upazila Parishad premises.
Local sources report that the pre-scheduled meeting was attended by representatives from the administration, police department, various offices, and law enforcement agencies.
After the meeting concluded, the following chairmen were apprehended: Shahadat Hossain Bhutto, chairman of 7 No Charbanipakuria Union and a member of the Upazila Awami League; Mamunur Rashid Mamun, chairman of 8 No Fulkucha Union and general secretary of the same union's Awami League; Saidul Islam Litu, chairman of 9 No Ghosherpara Union and a member of the Upazila Awami League; and Saidur Rahman Sayeed Master, chairman of 11 No Shyampur Union and a member of the Upazila Awami League.
Following their arrests, the Melandah police and district detective police took them to the Jamalpur court.
SM Alamgir, the upazila executive officer of Melandah, confirmed that all four chairmen were present at the monthly law and order committee meeting and were arrested as they were leaving.
Jamalpur Superintendent of Police Syed Rafiqul Islam said that the arrests were part of an ongoing operation known as "Operation Devil Hunt," aimed at detaining those involved in previous assaults on students during anti-discrimination protests.
He said that all four individuals are linked to the Awami League and have been handed over to the court.
