Rab arrests 8 members of 'biker gang'

Eight members of a 'biker gang' were held from the capital's Khilgaon area on Saturday night, for their alleged involvement in criminal activities, including extortion and attacking a mobile banking agent with guns.

A team of Rapid Action Battalion-3 detained them from Taltola and Shahjahanpur areas, said Bina Rani Das, operation officer of Rab-3.

The detainees are: Mehedi Hasan, 22; Shahriar, 22; Kazi Yusuf Bin Showkat, 19; Aminul Islam, 20; Abu Hurayra Adib, 18, Sabbir Hosain, 18, Shishir Ahmed alias Sajal, 22 and Mazharul Islam alias Anik Islam, 21, according to a Rab press release.

Riding 20 to 25 motorbikes, around 20 to 30 members of “Biker Gangster”, a local gang of Khilgaon-Shahjahanpur area, gathered in front of a fast food shop in Taltola around 7:30pm and demanded Tk 50,000 from Monir Hossain, a local Bkash agent, on the day.

“As he refused [to pay the money], they started firing. No one got hurt as the agent succeeded to dodge the bullet by hiding behind his counter; the counter has bullet marks,” said the Rab official.

On information, the Rab team went to the spot and apprehended five of them. Later, they arrested three more from Shahjahanpur. Three bullet shells, a projectile, a dummy pistol and three motorbikes were recovered from the spot, the Rab official said.

Rab said, this gang operated under the names "Road Riders" and "Crush BD" led by Rabbi alias Patha Rabbi and Adit.

Aged 17-24, members of the gang are involved with extortion, eve-teasing, drug dealing, robbery, carrying and using firearms, according to Rab.

Dhaka's teen gang culture first hit the headlines after a school student Adnan Kabir was beaten to death in Uttara last year.

Such gangs frequently fight with hockey sticks, cricket stumps and sharp knives to show their muscle power, establish supremacy or “draw respect” from elders and juniors in the area.

To show off strength, gang members often rode motorbikes recklessly and honked needlessly, painted graffiti and clashed with other group members, according to law enforcers and locals.