Pistol stolen from policeman recovered from notorious gang member after 5 months

Police recovered a pistol and 16 bullets belonging to a sub-inspector (SI) of Panchlaish police station from Chittagong city’s Bayezid area early Thursday, after they were stolen from his home on March 2 this year. Police officials claimed this was the first time they were able to recover a pistol stolen from a police official. One arrested during the drive was identified as Asadul Islam Babul, 39, son of Md Shahidul Islam hailing from Daudkandi upazila of Comilla. Panchlaish police station Inspector (investigation) Wali Uddin Akbar told the Dhaka Tribune that Babul was a member of the notorious “Hamka Group,” a mugging gang backed by Nur Alam. Panchlaish police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohiuddin Mahmud said: “After receiving a tip-off, a team from Panchlaish police station raided Babul’s house, in the Kunjachaya residential area under Bayezid police station, and recovered the stolen pistol and 16 bullets belonging to SI Md Hasan Ali from the wardrobe.” The OC added that Babul was a skilled lock breaker, and a huge cache of other stolen valuables and lock cutting tools were also seized from his possession. Meanwhile, Inspector Wali Uddin further said that Babul was arrested once before while in possession of three stolen laptops and had been freed on bail. A police source, asking to remain anonymous, said that Babul had attempted to sell the stolen firearm several times after removing the serial number. SI Hasan, the owner of the pistol, was suspended after losing the weapon and a departmental investigation regarding the matter is ongoing. Deputy Commissioner (DC) (North) Abdul Warish told the Dhaka Tribune: “The SI is still suspended. Departmental action will be taken against him if there is evidence of his negligence in the incident.” Two other pistols stolen from police officers – one from Akbarshah and one from Bakalia – are still missing, police sources said. On March 25, 2015, a service pistol belonging to SI Amir Kanti Day of CMP’s Traffic department was stolen from his house in the Tulatoli area under Bakalia police station. A year later, another service pistol, this one belonging to SI Jafar of Akbarshah police station, was stolen from his home in the same fashion on May 27.