In seperate drives, the law enforcers yesterday arrested 10 persons for extorting money by posing as officials of the Detective Branch of police in the capital.
Six of the detainees – Md Alauddin, Md Selim, Md Jahangir Alam, Md Emdad, Nikul and Masuma – were arrested in Badda, while the others – Mostafa, Mizanur Rahman Mizan, Al Amin and Sohel – in Mirpur, sources at the DB police said.
The Badda gang was arrested when a team of detectived led by Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Mahmuda Afroz Lucky raided the area in the morning following a tip-off, said SM Jahangir Alam Sarker, acting deputy commissioner (media) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
During primary interrogation, the accused confessed to the allegations against them.
The Mirpur gang, on the other hand was caught in the act of robbery, police said.
The four were part of a seven-member gang who, posing as DB officials, forcefully picked up a person and forced him to withdraw Tk350,000 from a bank at Darus Salam Road. As they rushed away from the bank, they caught Senior Sergeant Sazzad Hossain’s eye, said Matiur Rahman, a traffic sergeant on duty in the area.
Finding the microbus’s movement suspicious, Sazzad chased the vehicle until it got stuck in traffic near Sony Cinema Hall.
With the locals’ help, Sazzad was able to detain four of the criminals and rescued the victim. But the three others managed to escape with the money.
The arrested were later handed over to Mirpur model police station. Identity of the victim could not be known.
When contacted, Inspector (investigation) Moinul Haque of the police station confirmed the incident and said along with the microbus they seized a walkie-talkie and two handcuffs from their possessions.
