Four police officers, including three sub-inspectors (SIs), were seriously injured in an attack by a teen gang during an anti-drug operation in the Rayerbazar area of Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
The incident took place on Wednesday in the Board Ghat area of Rayerbazar in the evening.
The injured police officers are Afzalur Rashid, Jashim Uddin, Khorshed Alam, and Sohel Rana. Additionally, a police informant named Al-Amin was also injured and is currently hospitalized.
Deputy Police Commissioner (DC) of the Tejgaon Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Ibne Mizan, confirmed the incident.
He said: "Yesterday (Wednesday), when the police went on an operation, the teen gang and drug dealers launched a sudden attack on them, injuring several officers. However, the injuries are not too severe. Since the police maintain a zero-tolerance policy against teen gangs and drug dealers, the criminals carried out the attack due to the lower presence of police in that area. Later that night, a joint force conducted an operation in the area and arrested several individuals."
Police have identified the "Patali Group," a teen gang from the Board Ghat area of Rayerbazar, as being behind the attack. Authorities stated that a few days ago, the prime suspect in multiple murder cases and the leader of the Patali Group, Falan, was arrested.
At that time, members of the group and drug dealers from Board Ghat attempted to snatch him from police custody but failed. Later, on Wednesday evening, during a police operation, they attacked the officers with local weapons.
The attack was led by Langra Hasan, Farhad, and Chiku Shakil of the Patali Group. Under their command, group members Pichchi Hasan, Swapan, Shahin, Chhoto Hasan, Sabiz Munna, Dipu, Samrat, Rafiq, Rakib, Rasel, and 30-40 others carried out the attack.
Eyewitnesses and local residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that teen gang groups are the main force sustaining the rampant drug trade in the Rayerbazar area. Whenever someone tries to shut down the drug trade or conduct an operation against it, members of these gangs attack them.
Previously, Awami League leaders Shah Alam Jibon and Tarekuzzaman Rajib provided shelter to these drug dealers and gang members. However, currently, some leaders from the BNP and Jubo Dal are offering them protection.
Earlier, this same teen gang group had attacked personnel from the Department of Narcotics Control.
