Seven injured, including children, in gunfire during police raid at wedding

At least seven people, including children and teenagers, were injured in gunfire during a police operation to arrest suspected robbers at a wedding ceremony in Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar.

The incident took place around 9:30pm on Friday (November 13) in Dargah Ghona area of North Nalbila under Kalarmarchhara Union.

Among the injured, Minhaj Uddin, 24, was reportedly in critical condition and admitted to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital.

The other injured were Abdur Rahim Kalo, 16, Rahat, 12, Mohammad Wasif, 8, Babu, 18, and Sadeq, 25. All are residents of the Dargah Ghona area. Another person was also reportedly injured, but their identity could not immediately be confirmed.

According to local residents, a team from the Kalarmarchhara Police Camp went to the area on Friday night to arrest suspected robbers. At the time, a wedding ceremony was underway at the house of a local resident named Bhutto, with several children and teenagers attending the celebrations.

When police arrived, people reportedly panicked and began running in different directions. Locals alleged that police fired three rounds from behind, injuring seven people.

Residents said Minhaj was unable to escape after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to his legs. Police subsequently detained him while he was injured.

He was initially taken to Maheshkhali Upazila Health Complex. As his condition deteriorated and there was reportedly no case against him, he was released into his family's custody for treatment.

Minhaj's brother, Kafil Uddin, alleged that police shot his brother at the wedding and took him into custody. He claimed that Minhaj was beaten at the Kalarmarchhara camp before being taken to Maheshkhali Police Station.

He further alleged that police pressured Minhaj to record a video statement claiming he had been injured by robbers' gunfire, despite having no case against him. According to Kafil, police also demanded that the family file a case against the robbers and threatened to implicate Minhaj in an arms case if they refused.

The family said they were forced to record the video statement to save Minhaj and later took him to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital for treatment. They demanded a proper investigation and justice over the incident.

However, Maheshkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdus Soltan denied the allegations.

He said police had conducted an operation to arrest a suspected robber at the wedding venue, during which the robbers opened fire at officers. Two innocent people were injured in the incident, he claimed.

The OC also denied allegations that injured people were intimidated into giving statements or that their family members were forced to sign stamped papers.

sks