Seventeen suspected members of a juvenile gang have escaped from police custody after breaking down the door of a holding room inside the Daudkandi Model Police Station in Cumilla.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:00 pm on Wednesday, following an extensive day-long operation conducted by local police across various areas of Daudkandi Upazila. During the crackdown, officers detained 28 individuals on suspicion of involvement in local youth gang activities and transferred them to a designated room within the police station for processing.
According to local sources, tension mounted inside the facility during the evening hours. Several of the detainees began smashing plastic chairs before forcibly breaking down the door of the holding area. In the ensuing commotion, 17 of the suspects managed to flee the premises before officers could restore order.
Video footage showing shattered plastic chairs and a broken door scattered across the room quickly circulated on social media platforms, sparking public debate over security lapses at the facility. Local residents expressed concern over the police department’s handling of the situation and the apparent ease with which the detainees managed to break out.
Addressing the incident, the Officer-in-Charge of Daudkandi Model Police Station, Mohammad Sajedul Islam, dismissed allegations of a violent break-out or structural vandalisation. He stated that the gathering of anxious family members outside the station created an opportunity for several suspects to slip away during the administrative review.
“No vandalisation took place inside the station,” Officer-in-Charge Islam maintained. “Following the detention of several suspects, their family members gathered at the police station. During the commotion, a few individuals walked out. However, we have since re-detained them, and appropriate legal action is being pursued against all individuals involved in juvenile gang activities.”
Law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh have increasingly targeted juvenile gangs—locally referred to as “Kishore Gangs”—in recent years due to rising reports of extortion, street violence, and anti-social behaviour. Despite police efforts, controlling youth delinquency remains a significant administrative challenge in suburban and rural townships across the region. Authorities have launched an investigation into the precise circumstances surrounding the security breach at Daudkandi Police Station to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
