A group of miscreants have snatched two men, convicted by a mobile court for alleged involvement in extortion, from police custody in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat district.

Besides, at least 20 people including police personnel were injured in a series of clashes with the miscreants when they besieged the Patgram Police Station on Wednesday night.

Patgram Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Uttam Kumar Das said the two men- Sohel Rana and Belal Hossain- were detained earlier for extortion from stone-laden trucks.

Later, a mobile court sentenced them to one month in jail each.

Rangpur Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Aminul Islam said when the convicts were brought to the station a group of people gathered demanding their release.

The situation worsened when the attackers vandalised furniture, laptops, police vehicles and motorcycles inside the police station before snatching the duo.

The attackers also besieged the station, forcing them to resort to tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, he said, adding process was underway to file cases against the accused.

Locals said attempts to deploy police from nearby Hatibandha and Borkhata Highway Police Stations were obstructed by influential groups in the area.

Later, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was deployed to bring the situation under control.

DIG Aminul Islam, Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner HM Rakib Hyder, and Superintendent of Police Tariqul Islam visited the station on Thursday afternoon.

Patgram OC Mizanur Rahman  sid eight policemen were injured in the attacks by the miscreants.