Comilla police have detained 351 people in a six-hour crackdown on juvenile gangs, drug dealers and muggers across the district.
Of them, 132 face legal action, while 219 were released into their families’ custody after signing bonds.
The drive was conducted from 6:00pm to midnight on Thursday across all 18 police stations and by the Detective Branch (DB), District Police Media Officer and Additional Superintendent of Police Lutfor Rahman said Friday.
Police said the latest arrests are part of a wider crackdown launched on September 23. So far, 5,246 people have been detained, with 2,095 facing legal action and the rest released after signing bonds.
“The drive targeted areas linked to juvenile gangs as well as drug dealers and muggers,” Lutfor said, adding that senior police officials, including the superintendent of police, joined the operation.
He said police are verifying the detainees’ involvement in criminal activities before taking legal action and ensuring that innocent people are not harassed.
The latest drive came days after police detained 450 people in two consecutive operations on October 22 and 23.
The crackdown intensified following the murder of seventh-grader Ishayat Shahriar Opratim, son of Comilla University Associate Professor Nahida Begum. Opratim went missing on September 18, and his body was recovered the following day from a jungle in the Lalmai hills.
Police arrested four people, including two juveniles, over the murder. Three later gave confessional statements before a court. Investigators found links between the suspects and a juvenile gang.
Police said the ongoing drives will continue, while those released after signing bonds will remain under police surveillance.
