Detectives in Cumilla have dismantled an inter-district robbery gang, arresting five of its members during a night-time operation along the Cumilla-Noakhali regional highway. Officers seized a range of domestic weapons, housebreaking equipment, and two vehicles used by the gang.
Sub-Inspector Pabitra Sarkar of the Cumilla Detective Branch (DB) confirmed the arrests on Tuesday morning, 18 August. The raid took place on Monday night in the Lalmai Bazar area, located under the jurisdiction of the Sadar Dakshin Police Station.
Providing details of the operation, Mohammad Shamsul Alam Shah, Officer-in-Charge of Cumilla DB, stated that detectives acted on a precise tip-off regarding a planned robbery in the district. A DB team established a ambush in the Lalmai Bazar area. As the suspect vehicles approached, officers intervened, detaining two suspects inside a pickup truck parked at the scene. Three other accomplices attempted to flee on a motorcycle but were swiftly intercepted and taken into custody.
Initial police interrogations revealed that the gang members had gathered at Paduar Bazar in Sadar Dakshin before setting off along the Cumilla-Chandpur highway towards Paranpur Bazar, where they intended to carry out a major robbery. Detectives intercepted the group before they could execute the planned raid.
Police officials noted that the arrested individuals belong to an organized inter-district gang responsible for numerous armed robberies across various districts in the Chattogram Division over a prolonged period.
The five arrested suspects have been identified as:
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Jahirul Islam Pradhania, also known as Faruk, 53, from Hosenpur, Chandpur Sadar
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Rabiul Alam, 35, from Hosenpur, Chandpur Sadar
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Md. Mamun Miji, 45, from Hajiganj Upazila
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Md. Kabir Bhuiyan, 40, from Faridganj Upazila
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Md. Nazrul Islam, 35, from Faridganj Upazila
During the search, officers recovered a heavy iron belt cutter, an adjustable wrench, a pair of pliers, an iron rod, two wooden-handled machetes (kirich), and a wooden-handled cleaver (hasua), along with a black cloth bag. Police also impounded a blue pickup truck and a black Discover motorcycle used in the gang’s operations. Legal proceedings against the suspects are currently underway.
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