Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) DB (North) division and Panchlaish Model Police Station have arrested six people, including the main suspect, in connection with the theft of 350 bhori of gold.
During the operation, 290 bhori of the stolen gold and a motorcycle were recovered.
CMP Deputy Commissioner Md Habibur Rahman provided the details at a press conference at Panchlaish Police Station on Friday afternoon.
The arrested suspects are Suman Chandra Das, Masud Rana alias Bike Babu, Rafiqul Islam alias Emon, Robi Kumar Das, Panna Rani Das alias Dipali Rani Das, and Bibek Banik.
According to police, on Sunday around 5am, Sabuj Debnath and two others were traveling in a CNG auto-rickshaw from Saberia area under Kotwali Police Station to Oxygen area under Bayezid Bostami Police Station. In the Atur Depot area under Panchlaish Police Station, four robbers on two motorcycles blocked their path, threatened, and assaulted them, seizing 35 gold bars, three mobile phones, and cash before fleeing.
A case was filed at Panchlaish Model Police Station on Monday. A joint investigation team (JIT) formed by Panchlaish Police Station and DB (North) began the probe.
On Thursday, police arrested main suspect Suman Chandra Das, Masud Rana, and Rafiqul Islam in Madhabpur area under Kashimpur Police Station, Gazipur. A Suzuki Gixxer motorcycle used in the robbery was also recovered.
During interrogation, Suman Chandra Das admitted that the robbery was premeditated under his leadership. He said the stolen gold bars were kept with his wife, Panna Rani Das, and his cousin, Robi Kumar Das.
Following this lead, Robi Kumar Das was arrested in Mohammadpur area, Dhaka, and Panna Rani Das was taken into custody around 10:30 p.m. in Halishahar area, Chittagong. Later, Bibek Banik, a confidential informant, was also arrested in Kotwali area.
Police learned that 29 of the stolen gold bars were initially with Panna Rani Das and later with Robi Kumar Das, who admitted leaving them with his sister, Sakshi Protima Das. Based on this information, the 29 gold bars, wrapped in a paper box, were recovered from a fifth-floor apartment near Baishakhi Playground under Mohammadpur Police Station on Friday.
CMP Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rahman said the recovered 290 bhori of gold have an estimated market value of approximately Tk5.8 crore. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend other suspects and recover the remaining evidence.
