Foreigner robbed in port city
Police yesterday arrested a mugger with items he had snatched from an American teacher at an international university in the city.
On Wednesday around 9:30pm, the arrestee, Nagor Pandit, 26, mugged Dana Hudson Mclachlin -- an instructor of English at the Asian University for Women -- while she was walking home after having dinner at a restaurant on Zakir Hossain Road.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) organised a press conference on CMP premises yesterday afternoon to announce the arrest.
During a drive conducted till early hours yesterday since Thursday afternoon, the CMP recovered Dana's laptop, iPod and e-book reader from the possession of Nagor Pandit -- one of the muggers who took part in Wednesday night's mugging.
The CNG-run auto-rickshaw that was used during the crime was also seized.
However, police are yet to arrest his associate and recover rest of the belongings taken from the US citizen -- Tk 7,000 in cash, a US driving licence and two ATM cards.
A journalist identity card bearing the names of two newspapers -- the daily Sangbad Mohona and monthly Sangbad Diganta -- was also recovered having Nagor Pandit's name on it. He is son of Salam Pandit from Bhola and a resident of Bahir Signal area of Chandgaon in the city.
Hassan Mohammad Shawkat Ali, deputy commissioner of Detective Branch (North-South), said, “We conducted the drive based on intelligence and arrested the criminal. During primary interrogation, the arrestee admitted that two persons took part in the snatching. We are trying to arrest the other snatcher.”
Speaking with journalists Dana said, “I was walking home; someone grabbed my bag from a CNG. But I immediately told the police and they were very helpful. They helped recover my items. I feel very secure and people are very willing to help. Bad things can happen in any country, but people have been incredibly kind to me here. So I don't feel unsafe at all.”
In reply to journalists' queries, Nagor Pandit said the owner of the CNG auto-rickshaw “managed” the journalist ID card for him to evade police harassment as the vehicle was not registered.
Meanwhile, detectives in two separate drives arrested five other muggers from Agrabad Access Road and Radio Office areas under Double Mooring yesterday.
The five are professional snatchers and accused in several cases, said Anwar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of DB at CMP.
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