Police have arrested alleged shooter Tanim Reza alias Bappi and four of his associates in connection with an extortion and shooting case in the capital's Motijheel area, recovering three foreign-made firearms and seven rounds of ammunition during the operation.
Police say Bappi is a known associate of notorious criminal Subrata Bain.
Mohammad Osman Gani, additional commissioner of police (Estate, Development and ICT) and acting additional commissioner (Crime and Operations), disclosed the matter at a press briefing held at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media Centre on Minto Road on Saturday.
The other arrestees were identified as Mohammad Jewel, 48; Shakil, 27; Md Manik Kazi, 50 and Rakibul Islam Bhuiyan alias Rizon,35.
According to police, the suspects were involved in the firing at the office of a leaseholder of a sacrificial cattle market in South Kamalapur. They are also accused of demanding Tk 10 lakh in extortion and issuing death threats to the businessman via WhatsApp using a foreign phone number.
Osman Gani said members of the DMP's Motijheel Division arrested Bappi and three of his associates near Hotel Purbani in Motijheel on Friday. Subsequent raids led to the arrest of three more accomplices, including Rizon.
Investigators said armed assailants opened fire on the cattle market leaseholder's office on May 19, days after the businessman received WhatsApp messages from a foreign number on May 15 demanding Tk 10 lakh and threatening to kill him if the money was not paid.
Following the incident, a case was filed with Motijheel Police Station. The investigation identified Bappi and his associates as suspects, but they had remained in hiding until their arrests, police said.
Based on information obtained during interrogation and with technological assistance, police later arrested Rizon from North Kamalapur.
Acting on information provided by the suspects, police raided Bappi's office in South Kamalapur late Friday night and seized one foreign-made revolver, two foreign-made pistols, seven rounds of ammunition, two magazines, an electric stun gun, and a Chinese-made axe.
A separate case has been filed under the Arms Act with Motijheel Police Station over the recovered weapons, police said.
