Witnesses said five youths came to Hotel Al Madna at around 3:30pm and gave a mobile number to the owner asking him to phone to their boss Sumon who demanded Tk 3 lakh in illegal toll two months ago.

"As my father refused to make the call, the criminals tried to beat him prompting me and customers to raise alarm," said a son of the hotelier.

The miscreants then fled the scene by exploding two bombs, but the locals chased and caught one of them named Rafiqul Islam.

Local businessmen said Sumon is an accomplice of Pichchi Hannan and he has long been forcing traders to give him illegal tolls.

Police also recovered four bombs left by the gang from near the hotel.