Angry traders earlier confined the sub-inspector, Ismail Hossain, 32, and beat him before high officials of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) came to the scene to his rescue.

Witnesses and traders said SI Ismail along with police 'source' Helal Uddin and two constables, all in plainclothes, stormed into Pinky Stores at Tamakumandi Lane in Reazuddin Bazaar at around 12.30pm. They soon started ransacking furniture of the mobile shop and at one stage looted two mobile sets and Tk 45,000.

"As I cried out for help, other traders of the market rushed in and confine the SI but his three companions managed to flee with the booty," salesman at the shop Jasim Uddin told journalists.

The agitated traders beat Ismail and later took him to the office of Tamakumandi Traders Association and confined him there until Assistant Commissioner (Kotwali Zone) Mahbub Rashid and Officer in-Charge of Kotwali PS Mainuddin reached there, the witnesses said.

Seeing the two top police officials, the traders became more angry, chanted slogans against cops and demanded punishment of SI Ismail. The situation calmed down after the AC (Kotwali) assured them of action against the cop.

AC Mahbub told reporters that SI Ismail was suspended as per order of CMP Commissioner M Mazedul Haque and departmental actions would soon be taken against him.