Detectives last night arrested Sohrab Mia, a local Jubo League leader known as the ‘Drug King’ in Kurigram Sadar upazila.

Nazmul Alam, officer-in-charge of Kurigram Sadar police station, said Sohrab Mia was arrested from Sirir Mor under Jatrapur union.

Police are investigating various offences, including illegal drug trafficking, against him, the OC said.

He is the general secretary of Jatrapur union unit of Jubo League and younger brother of Jatrapur Union Parishad president Abdul Gafur. He is a resident of Newani Para village in Jatrapur.

He is one of the defendants in a case filed for attacking students during the Student Anti-Discrimination Movement. In addition, there are a number of allegations that he is involved in drug trafficking and providing legal aid to drug traffickers.

According to locals, Sohrab is also known as the ‘lineman’ of Sadar Police Station. When any drug dealer faced any problem, he would coordinate with the police station and manage everything. He had made drug dealing and use an open secret in the area. As he is the Jubo League leader and the brother of the UP local president, the locals did not dare to protest against him, they said.

Former Jatrapur Parishad Union President Ayub Ali said, “Sohrab Mia is a ‘drug mafia’ in the area and played a key role in supplying drugs to the youth of the area. Although complaints were filed against him at the police station and administration. several times, no action was taken against him for ‘mysterious’ reasons”.

He also said, “If the arrested person is interrogated rigorously, the police will find sources of the various crimes in which he is involved.”

When contacted, Sohrab’s elder brother and Jatrapur UP president Abdul Gafur refused to comment on the issue.