Security guard threatened with knife at Rajshahi diagnostic center after warning patients about brokers
Photo Collected
RAJSHAHI — Police have arrested a 37-year-old man after a security guard at a private diagnostic center was assaulted and threatened with a knife for warning patients against local touts and fraudulent operators.
The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon in front of the older building of the Popular Diagnostic Center at the Lakshmipur intersection in Rajshahi city. The victim, security guard Sabbir Hossain, filed a formal complaint with the Rajpara Police Station on Thursday afternoon.
Authorities identified the primary suspect as Ariful Islam, a resident of the Lakshmipur area, who was apprehended by police late Thursday night. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rajpara Police Station, Abul Kalam Azad, confirmed the arrest on Friday morning, adding that the suspect is scheduled to be presented in court.
According to the case files, the confrontation began when Sabbir was using a handheld microphone to broadcast warnings to patients, advising them to remain vigilant against pickpockets, scammers, and brokers who frequently loiter in the area to lure patients to private clinics. Several individuals approached Sabbir and demanded he stop the announcements. When he refused, citing his professional duties, he was physically assaulted.
The complaint alleges that at the instigation of others, Ariful retrieved a large, sharp knife from behind the diagnostic center building and held it to Sabbir’s throat while issuing death threats. Onlookers managed to intervene and rescue the security guard.
In total, six individuals were named in the case. Besides Ariful, the suspects include Ridan, 20; Rocky, 22; Md. Jim, 25; Md. Kajol, 30; and an individual identified only as Masud. Police stated that investigations are ongoing to locate and arrest the remaining five suspects.
The attack occurred just hours after a local political organization, the Rajshahi Metropolitan Chhatra Dal, submitted a memorandum to the director of the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. The memorandum highlighted the rising menace of organized broker rings operating within the hospital vicinity, which misdirect patients to private facilities and compromise the safety and healthcare environment for the public. The group demanded increased surveillance and regular crackdowns on these syndicates at key entry points and hospital wards.
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