Azir Uddin of village Kandola under Kanaighat upazila had filed the extortion case against Harris and five others -- Harris's cousin Ashique Chowdhury, UP Chairman Ahmed Soleman, Ahmed Mostafa and Altaf Uddin of village Bajekhel, and Mamunur Rashid of village Nandirai in Kanaighat upazila.

On August 26 of 2006, the five accused told Azir Uddin that Harris Chowdhury had asked him to give Tk1 lakh within two days, the complainant said in the case.

As he failed, Ashique with about 30 to 35 armed men looted valuables from Kandola Bazar and set fire to Azir's shop on September 2, he added.

A police official said the allegations of damaging the structures belonging to complainant Azir Uddin had been found correct, but the allegation of demanding toll could not be established.

Accordingly, the Investigation Officer of the case Sub-Inspector Abdul Mannan filed the charge sheet to the court on 29 May dropping the allegation of demanding toll.

But, as the complainant raised objection to the charge sheet, Magistrate Abdul Hye Al Mahmud yesterday ordered the officer-in-charge of Kanaighat Police Station to conduct a fresh investigation.