Twelve police officers sustained injuries after being ambushed by an armed extortion syndicate during a late-night raid in Raozan upazila, Chittagong. Law enforcement personnel returned fire, capturing an injured suspect at the scene along with a significant haul of firearms, military-grade ammunition, and edged weapons.
The violence erupted at around 11:45 pm on Wednesday, 30 September, in the South Kadalpur Jaynagar Barua Para area of Ward 9, within Kadalpur Union. Details of the clash were formally disclosed by Chattogram District Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Masud Alam during a press conference held at his office on Thursday afternoon, 1 October.
According to police officials, the raid targeted an organized criminal gang led by local gang leaders Jane Alam, locally known as “Dakat Alam”, and Mohammad Aziz, alias “Aziz Boss”. The syndicate had been terrorising local residents, business owners, and commercial establishments in the area through widespread extortion. On 25 September, the gang stormed the residence of a local resident named Abu Bakkar Chowdhury, demanding a substantial sum of money. Following a formal complaint lodged by the victim, police launched a targeted operation to apprehend the perpetrators.
A team from the district police arrived at Dakat Alam’s residence late on Wednesday night. As officers approached the perimeter, gang members stationed inside opened fire indiscriminately without warning. Alongside Dakat Alam and Aziz Boss, several key associates participated in the attack, including Dildar Hossain, Md Rubel, Md Mamun-or-Rashid (alias Mamun), and Md Bacha.
Officers responded with retaliatory fire in self-defence. As the gunbattle intensified, the gang retreated into the surrounding terrain under cover of darkness. Police searched the premises immediately after the firing ceased and apprehended Dildar Hossain, who was suffering from gunshot wounds. His accomplices managed to escape. Twelve police personnel injured during the exchange received emergency medical treatment at nearby healthcare facilities.
During a search of the site, officers seized a double-barrelled gun, a sawed-off single-barrelled gun, 119 rounds of live China rifle ammunition, six lead cartridges, four large machetes (ramda), two tactical vests, and two ammunition belts. SP Masud Alam confirmed that search operations are underway across Raozan and adjacent areas to track down the fleeing suspects, including Dakat Alam and Aziz Boss.
