The Imam of Dumdia Madhyapara New Jame Mosque in Gopalganj Sadar Upazila was picked up from the front of the mosque due to previous enmity. The incident took place on Wednesday morning, media reported, adding that Maulana Abdul Salam Sheikh, 50, who was critically injured, survived.
According to the details of the case, the accused Julhas, a resident of Kathi Union of Sadar Upazila, left the front of Dumdia Mosque at around 7:30 am on July 1 and claimed his mother is sick.
When the motorbike reached the bridge in front of the Mia fish enclosure, Sahan Gazi, son of Shahid Gazi, a resident of Urfi Union, Milton Mridha, son of Kibria Mridha and Rana, son of the deceased Badal of Kathi Union, along with a few others started attacking the imam in a premeditated ambush.
At the behest of Sheikh Alamgir Kabir, Sahan Ghazi, who was present at the incident, hit Imam on both legs with a cricket stump, breaking the bone under the knee of Imam's right leg and he fell to the ground.
All those present at the time randomly beat the Imam and snatched Tk 10,000 in cash from him. Later, people including Hakim Sardar, who live near bridge, came to the rescue of the Imam. The assailants threatened to kill the imam and fled.
Rescuers and relatives later admitted Imam to the emergency department of Gopalganj's 250-bed General Hospital. The accused Sheikh Alamgir Kabir could be reached. A case has been filed with Gopalganj Sadar Police Station in this regard. Investigating officer of the case Gopalganj Sadar Police Station SI Murad Hussain said the accused in the case are absconding. The operation to arrest them is ongoing.