Underworld criminals who went into hiding during a massive crackdown by law enforcers are now reportedly back in the capital extorting money from businessmen to make some quick bucks ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
“Hardened criminals, including Shahadat, Jishan, Subrata Bain and Bikash, have come out of their hideouts and they are now after the businessmen,” said a source from an intelligence department.
The sidekicks of the notorious criminals are threatening influential people over telephone to give them extortion regularly.
Last week armed extortionists belonging to Mirpur’s top terror Shahadat group stormed a restaurant and opened fire after failing to extort money. The incident left a customer bullet-hit.
The identity of the injured could not be known as the customer left the spot immediately after the incident.
The restaurant owner Masum and Officer-in-charge of the Darussalam Police Station Khalilur Rahman said two youths, introducing themselves as the accomplices of Shahadat, came in a motorbike around 10:00am. They entered the restaurant, Dhanshiri, located on the Mazar Road and demanded Tk1m from the manager.
As soon as Masum denied paying them, the gangsters fired a round of bullets that injured a customer. Sensing danger ahead the gangsters fled the scene.
Businessmen, particularly owners of export-oriented garment factories, wealthy people, senior government officials and owners of other big businesses often receive phone calls from criminals for oodles of money.
In most cases, such criminal gangsters target the owners of small industries, business establishments and restaurants.
Jashim Uddin, a trader of Gopibagh area, alleged that a local terrorist gang demanded Tk200,000 from him recently. “They also threatened to shoot me if I don’t meet their demand. At one stage, I was forced to pay Tk50, 000 to them,” he said.
An Uttara resident said an unidentified man introducing himself as a member of top terror Subrato Bain’s gang, recently demanded Tk200,000 from him over phone. “If you fail to give the money, you along with your family members will be killed,” the unidentified caller threatened him over phone.
Sources at the intelligence department, however, said most of the listed top terrors are currently staying outside the country.
Some of the branded criminals are absconding. Some of them are even languishing in jails.
However, their local associates continue to commit various criminal activities, including extortion, in the capital in the name of their runaway underworld dons.
Among the top criminals arrested in the city are Kamal Pasha, Khandakar Titon, Freedom Sohel, Liakat, Pichchi Helal and Moshiur Rahman Kochi.
Those who control the criminal world of the capital from abroad including neighbouring India, are Shahadat, Tanvirul Islam Joy, Haris Ahmed alias Haris, Molla Masud, Khorshed Alam, Jishan and Rosen.
Garment trader Faisal Ahmed of Mirpur-1 alleged that an anonymous caller introducing him as a cadre of notorious criminal Shahadat recently demanded Tk200,000 from him.
“If you want to run your business properly keep the money ready or else face dire consequences,” the unidentified caller threatened Faisal.
While contacted, Deputy Commissioner (media and publication) of the DMP Masudur Rahman said the callers are fake in most cases.
“As people get frightened by the mere mention of top criminals some people use their names to extort money and they are doing so regularly,” DC Masud said.
He, however, urged the people not to panic after getting such phone calls.
Intelligence department sources said criminal gangs including teenagers in the city form small groups to easily carry out their activities making the city a dangerous place for the dwellers.
When contacted, Director of the Media and Legal Wing of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), ATM Habibur Rahman said: “We have received allegations of extortion in the name of top terrorists in the capital.”
Members of the intelligence department of the Rab are very much active to trace the criminals and arrest them, Habibur said.
