Police confirm Khulna sub-registrar’s abduction, suspects identified

KHULNA, Oct 8: Police have confirmed that Khulna Sadar Sub-Registrar Tanmoy Kumar Mondal was forcibly taken from his office by armed men, and several people allegedly involved in the incident have been identified.

Officer-in-Charge of Khulna Sadar Police Station Lokman Hossain Ripon said police were trying to arrest those involved after reviewing CCTV footage.

The incident occurred on Wednesday noon when several masked men allegedly entered the sub-registrar’s office on KD Ghosh Road and took Mondal away at gunpoint. Mondal was first taken by motorcycle to nearby West Sadar Hospital Road and later put in a rickshaw and taken towards the Bhairab River. He returned unharmed about 30 minutes later.

CCTV footage reportedly shows Mondal being taken away in a rickshaw while a masked man sitting beside him pointed a pistol at his abdomen. Two motorcycles were seen escorting the rickshaw, while another masked man ran behind it.

Ripon said Mondal had not filed a police complaint. However, because the incident occurred at a government office, police were conducting a special investigation. Mondal has been questioned and could be questioned again if necessary, he said.

Meanwhile, some office staff and deed writers, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that members of a local criminal group known as “B Company” were behind the incident. They claimed the group demanded Tk 50 lakh in ransom and threatened Mondal’s family if he disclosed the matter. They said Mondal was released after reaching an understanding with the group.

The allegations could not be independently verified. The sources also alleged that Mondal, who joined the Sadar Sub-Registrar’s Office about two years ago, had faced allegations of corruption and irregularities, including demanding large bribes to sign deeds. Mondal denied the allegations. He also denied that he had been abducted or that Tk 50 lakh had been demanded as ransom.