An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of industrial police was arrested along with his three associates yesterday allegedly for holding a pedestrian hostage for ransom in Savar.

Mokbul Hossen, ASI of Dhaka Industrial Police-1, was closed primarily. Other arrestees are Biplob Hossen, Shapon Hossen, and Hasmot Ali Sheikh.

On Tuesday around 11:00am, Shamim Hossen was waiting at Baitail Bus Station. Suddenly, Mokbul along with the three arrived in a car, he told The Daily Star.

"Introducing themselves as officials of the Detective Branch of police (DB), they forced me into the car and demanded Tk 20,000 as ransom. They also threatened to implicate me in a drug case if the money was not paid," Shamim added.

Shamim called his family members and they first sent Tk 10,000 to a bKash account suggested by Mokbul around 12:00am. Within an hour, the four again forced Shamim to call his family for Tk 10,000 more. But this time, the family informed police around 2:00am, he added.

The car, which was used in the incident had a sticker of DB police on the front glass, said Abdul Awal, OC of Ashulia police, who made the arrest early in the morning.

Shaminur Rahman, director of Dhaka Industrial Police-1, said departmental action would be taken against Mokbul.