Three remanded over alleged release of Pichchi Raja

Gazipur court has placed two police personnel and the sister of alleged drug dealer Pichchi Raja on four-day remand over his escape from a prison van.

The court passed the order on Tuesday after an investigation found that the earlier claim that Pichchi Raja had escaped by asking to use a toilet did not match the findings, police said.

Gazipur Chief Judicial Magistrate Court-4 Judge Zubayer Rashid granted the remand following a hearing. Gazipur Metropolitan Police Court Inspector Ahsan Ullah Chowdhury confirmed the matter.

The three remanded accused are prison van officer Sub-Inspector Prabir Kumar Biswas, van driver Naik Kamal Hossain and Pichchi Raja’s sister Taslima.

Investigation Officer Syed Mizanur Rahman had sought seven days’ remand for each of them. The court granted four days and later sent them to jail.

According to police, the prison van was returning to Kashimpur Central Jail from the Dhaka District Judge’s Court with 29 inmates at around 8:30pm on September 27.

When the van reached the Baimail area under Konabari Police Station in Gazipur, police personnel on duty had claimed that Pichchi Raja escaped after asking to use a toilet.

However, investigators later found inconsistencies between that account and the circumstances of the incident.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Israel Hawladar said the investigation found that police personnel had allegedly helped Pichchi Raja leave the van in exchange for money.

Police have not yet determined how much money was allegedly paid. However, Tk60,000 was recovered from the home of prison van driver Naik Kamal Hossain, according to police.

Police said the two personnel on duty and Pichchi Raja’s sister Taslima were allegedly involved in facilitating his escape. Investigators are questioning them to determine the details of the alleged financial transaction and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police arrested Pichchi Raja in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area on May 19. According to police, he was one of the leading drug dealers in the area and faces at least 30 cases.