Tension flared in Chattogram city’s Bakalia area this evening after hundreds of people gathered and tried to stop police from taking a man, accused of sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl, into custody.

Till the filing of this report at 8:15pm, the mob seemed determined to snatch the man from the victim's house. Videos have surfaced online of police firing shots to bring the situation under control.

The accused, Monir Hossen, 35, works at a local decoration shop, said police.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Solaiman, of Bakalia Police Station, said according to the child’s family, Monir Hossen sexually abused the four-year-old girl after taking her inside a decoration shop near her house. Later, the child narrated the incident to her parents.

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Following the incident, the child’s family held Monir and took him to their house.

After the news spread in the locality, hundreds gathered in front of the house to snatch him and beat the accused. On information, police also rushed to the spot, the OC added.

A witness said as the public became furious and tried to snatch the accused, police opened fire to bring the situation under control at around 6:00pm. Chases and counter chases ensued between police and the mob.

However, no officials picked up their phones when contacted for confirmation about shots being fired.