17 burglars held in port city

Police claimed to have arrested 11 members of a burglar gang from a hotel in Chattogram city’s Laldighi area early yesterday.

Police said they used to commit burglary in different districts including Dhaka, Chattogram, Barishal and Cumilla.

Two guns, four rounds of cartridges and different tools used for theft were also seized from the arrestees, they added.

Law enforcers identified the arrestees as Liakat Hossain, Akram alias Arman Sagor, Hanif, Towfiq, Masum, Noyon Mallik, Milan, Kamal Hossain, Jamal Uddin, Kamal alias Bhusi Kamal, and Mizan.

Among them, Hanif -- alias Hatpora Hanif -- is the ringleader of the group, while Kamal is his second in command, police said.

Mehedi Hasan, deputy commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (South Zone), said two theft cases were filed with Kotwali Police Station in February and June.

Investigators found clues about the gang through CCTV footage, he said while addressing a press conference at his office.

Inspector (Investigation) of Kortali Police Station Md Kamruzzaman said Hanif has 45 operatives, working in nine other small groups.

“Hanif supports them financially when they are arrested,” said the inspector. They were shown arrested in the two cases, he added.

Meanwhile, Bandar police arrested six alleged burglars from different areas along with looted valuables and cash, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (port) Arefin Juwel.