Online Desk: A court has landed an alleged gold smuggler and three policemen to jail on charge of embezzling gold bars worth around Taka 30 lakhs in the city here yesterday.

Abdul Mannan, Judge of Khulna Metropolitan (Cognizance) Court-2 landed them to jail after Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) produced them before the Court, Hafizur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Labanchara Police Station confirmed to BSS today.

The alleged smuggler was arrested under Special Powers Act while the accused Cops were arrested under the section of 392 Penal Code, he said, adding that the police will seek a remand prayer before the court tomorrow.

The arrested smuggler Bashudeb confessed to the police that he was going to Satkhira with a view to smuggle gold bars to India. He was involved in smuggling for a long time, OC said.

Earlier, four people including the smuggler and three policemen of Labanchara thana were arrested yesterday from Sachibunia intersection in the city.

The arrested are, Sub Inspector (SI) Mostofa Zaman, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Ahsan Habib and constable Murad of Labanchara Police Station and Bashudeb Dey, an alleged gold smuggler.

Moklesur Rahman, Sub Inspector (SI) of the same Police Station filed a case in this connection last night.

According to the FIR, Bashudeb Dey was going to Satkhira carrying six gold bars boarding a bus of Tungipara Paribahan with a view to smuggle it to India.

Patrol police (accused three COPs) of Labanchara Police Station started to search the passenger bus when it arrived at the Sachibunia intersection yesterday noon.

Sensing the presence of Police, Bashudeb was trying to escape from the spot but he was caught red handed by police. Police snatched three gold bars from his possession after searching him. Police also left the alleged smuggler after loitering him at different places with motorcycle, the FIR narrated.

Later, the alleged smuggler Bashudeb went to the high officials of KMP and described the snatching incident done by the Cops, a KMP official told the BSS.

Instantly, police arrested the alleged smuggler Bashudeb and three Cops by the order of the KMP Boss, he said.

Meanwhile, a KMP press release issued by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Sadar) Mia Mohammad Ashish Bin Hasan here said the patrol police of KMP arrested Bashudeb Dey from a passenger bus at around 12:30pm on Friday when they were searching the bus at Sachibunia Biswa Road Intersection check post.

On-duty Police arrested Bashudeb and seized gold bars wrapped with scotch tape from his possession while he was trying to escape.

Through his confessional statement, KMP officials came to know that the duty Police tactfully took three gold bars. By the order of KMP Commissioner Md. Mozzammel Haque, the accused three cops were arrested, said the press release.

Bashudeb Dey also confessed his involvement in the smuggling before the court under section164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the Press release said adding that Investigation Officer has already sought five-day remand to the court.

Police will take stern action against the criminals even though he belongs to the Police Department, the press release added.