Sylhet City Corporation mayor Ariful Haque Choudhury allegedly took law into own hand by beating a van puller for violating traffic rules.

The incident took place at Zindabazar-Chowhatta Road in Sylhet city at noon on Saturday.

Beating of van puller was caught on mobile camera of Saptarshi Das, former president of the Sylhet district unit of Bangladesh Students’ Union.

Visitors are bashing Ariful Haque as the photo went viral on social media. They termed the incident unbecoming of a mayor.

In fact, the mayor tried to show a quasi-judicial power which nobody except a member of law enforcing agency does have. Even law enforcers cannot beat a person over a trivial issue.

According to allegation of victim and local account, Rubel went to a nearby shop to deliver products leaving his van in a roadside place. The mayor not only questioned Rubel about parking of the van but also beat him.

Talking to journalists, mayor said he just cautioned the van puller with the stick but did not beat him. He also admitted that beating a person with stick is unlawful.