Police in Chattogram have arrested the alleged ringleader of a local criminal gang along with two associates following a violent gunfight over narcotics control and territorial dominance. Officers apprehended the primary suspect, Murad, alongside his accomplices, Sumon and Ruhul Amin, during a targeted overnight raid in the Bakalia area on Tuesday night.
The arrests stem from a violent clash that erupted on Sunday night along Syed Shah Road, adjacent to the Bakalia Access Road. Rival criminal groups vying for control of the lucrative local illicit drug trade engaged in pitched battles involving repeated chases, brickbatting, and gunfire. The gunfire, which echoed through the neighbourhood late into the night, triggered widespread panic among local residents.
Bakalia police officers rushed to the scene immediately upon receiving reports of the violence to restore order and disperse the warring factions. During the initial response on Sunday night, law enforcement personnel detained 15 individuals directly involved in the affray.
Following up on actionable intelligence regarding the whereabouts of the remaining faction leaders, a special team from Bakalia Police Station launched an operation on Tuesday night, resulting in the capture of Murad and his two key associates.
Confirming the operation, Assistant Commissioner (Media) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), Aminur Rashid, stated that a verification of Murad’s Previous Conviction and Previous Record (PCPR) revealed his involvement in at least 16 pending cases registered across various CMP police stations, including charges related to narcotics trafficking, violence, and possession of illegal arms.
All three suspects were formally produced before a Chattogram court on Wednesday afternoon. Police authorities confirmed that intelligence-led operations remain ongoing across the Bakalia precinct to dismantle active drug syndicates and prevent further gang violence.
