Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Branch (DB) on Saturday arrested nine active members a gang, responsible for a series of CNG (auto-rickshaw) robberies, following coordinated operations in Dhaka and Munshiganj.
The arrestees were idenfied as Md Karim Mia, 43; Md Mannan Khan, 66; Monsur alias Mosharaf, 43; Mojibur, 54; Jasim, 37; Monir, 45; Md Jamal Hossain, 66; Touhidul Islam Robin, 26; and Yunus, 50.
According to a DMP press release, the gang’s activities came to light after an October 1 incident in Mohammadpur. Around 4:30am, CNG driver Md Shahjalal was having tea at the Allah Karim Bus Stand when a man posing as a passenger hired his vehicle to go to Ati Bazar for Tk300. The assailant secretly mixed a sedative into Shahjalal’s tea.
Shahjalal became unconscious within minutes. The gang then stopped the CNG near Bosila Metro Housing, abandoned him on the roadside, and stole the vehicle, his mobile phone, and Tk3,550 from his wallet. The gang later contacted the CNG owner, Joy, demanding a ransom of Tk60,000, which was paid via bKash. By 10pm, the vehicle was reported abandoned near Buddhijibi Cemetery in Mohammadpur. A case was filed at Mohammadpur police station on Thursday.
A team from the DB Tejgaon Division identified the suspects through CCTV footage analysis and other intelligence.
On Friday, around 12 pm, an operation in Dholaipar, Dhaka, led to the arrest of Md Karim Mia, Md Mannan Khan, Monsur, Mojibur, Jasim, and Monir. Based on information from the arrested suspects, a second operation around 12:45pm in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj, resulted in the capture of gang ringleader Md Jamal Hossain and his associates Touhidul Islam Robin and Yunus.
Authorities recovered two CNGs, 1,900 sedative tablets, and Tk1 lakh during the operations.
“The arrested individuals have long been renting CNGs under the pretext of passengers, sedating the drivers, and stealing the vehicles. Members of this gang have been active in Dhaka and neighboring districts,” the DMP said.
Legal proceedings against the suspects are ongoing, and operations to apprehend other gang members continue.
