Police have arrested 13 people, including a woman and three minors, in a special anti-mugging drive in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur, recovering locally made weapons and four stolen mobile phones.
The arrestees are Shanto Hossain Shahin, 21, Fahimul Hasan Alif, 22, Abir Bepari Shanto, 23, Rajib, 25, Md Arafat Rahman, 20, Md Hasnain Hasan, 26, Md Naim, 25, Naim Omar, 23, Md Swapan, 19, and Mosammat Khushi Akter, 19. The other three are minors.
According to Mohammadpur police, the arrests were made during special drives at different locations in the area on Friday.
Police recovered three switchblades, two sharp knives, 10 iron rods, a serrated knife and four stolen mobile phones.
Md Hasnain Hasan faces several mugging cases filed with Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police stations, police said.
According to preliminary findings, the group allegedly used weapons to intimidate pedestrians, bus and rickshaw passengers, and relatives of patients visiting hospitals before snatching their mobile phones, cash and other valuables.
The group also allegedly targeted female pedestrians, stealing mobile phones and other belongings from their bags when they were distracted.
Two separate cases have been filed against the arrestees with Mohammadpur Police Station.
The process of producing them before a court is underway, police said.