Police detained 20 in seperate drives, including fashion model and actor Pallab, from the capital’s Rampura, Karwanbazar and Bhashantek areas in the early hours of yesterday and recovered firearms, bullets and sharp weapons.
Pallab and four of his associates were released 10 hours after arrest, as police found them innocent after interrogation.
Along with 10 others, Pallab was detained by Rampura police from a house in Banasree.
The detainees are Kamal, Aftab Islam Johnny, Farid Uddin, Obaidul Islam, Liton Matubbor and Ismail Hossain.
Police released Pallab along with Saddam, Hridoy, Moniruzzaman and Pallab’s chauffeur in the afternoon.
“They were held when Pallab, along with his three associates and driver, went to Kamal for selling cinema and drama,” said Inspector Kripa Sindhu Bala, officer-in-charge of Rampura police station.
She said they were arrested during a drive around 1am from Kamal’s place. Police seized three firearms, 14 rounds of bullets and four sharp weapons from the spot. “Kamal and five of his associates are involved in various criminal activities like extortion, robbery, drug peddling and mugging in the area,” said Kripa.
Kamal was accused in eight cases and two general diaries were filed against him on various criminal charges, she added.
Members of Bhashantek police station detained nine robbers from the Bhashantek and Karwanbazar areas and confiscated tools for making explosives and conducting robbery.
Following statements of six arrestees - Mehedi Hasan Rana, Tofazzal Islam, Piayakat Ali, Nannu Miah, Juboraj and Rafiqul Islam - police arrested three other members of the gang - Md Shahjahan, Himel and Alfaz - from Karwanbazar.
Eight crude bombs, eight machetes and various items used in robberies were recovered from their possession.