Gang of Rab imposters busted

They are all criminals but have tactical vests, walkie-talkies and handcuffs usually used by law enforcers.

Using these to impersonate Rapid Action Batallion (Rab) men, they used to pick people up from the streets and looted their valuables before dropping them elsewhere, Rab officials said yesterday after arrest of seven members of a gang of imposters.

A Rab-1 team arrested them while they were attempting to prey on their next target in the capital's Kawla area on Sunday night, Mufti Mahmud Khan, Rab's Legal and Media wing director, told reporters at a press briefing at Rab media centre.

Two tactical vests (used by law enforcers) with Rab inscribed on them, a firearm, two pairs of handcuffs, a walkie-talkie and a microbus carrying a Rab sticker were also recovered.

“The gang was carrying those to convince victims that they are real Rab men,” Mufti Mahmud said.

The arrestees are: Kashem alias Jibon, 58, the ringleader; Ibrahim Khalil, 40, the driver; Zakir Hossain Suman, 27; Billal Hossain Aslam, 32; Abdul Mannan, 50; Sohag, 27 and Arif, 28.

They had looted around Tk 40 lakh from at least 13 victims in the last two months in different districts, Rab officials said. 

With a broken hand hanging from an arm sling, Mohiuddin Ahmed – one of the victims of the gang -- arrived at the briefing and narrated how the gang tortured him to loot his money on October 28.

The gang members, identifying as Rab men, forced him into a microbus near Tongi Modhumita road area, tortured him inside the vehicle and looted Tk 4 lakh he had been carrying, Mohiuddin said, adding that he was dropped in a deserted area of Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj.

According to Mufti Mahmud, people who carry handsome amounts of money, especially after drawing those from banks, are primary targets of the gang.

Two or three of them used to enter a bank posing as clients and pass information about possible targets to other members waiting outside, he said.

As soon as a person came out of bank after drawing money, the gang used to pick them up identifying as law enforcers, and looted the money before dropping them off, Rab officials said.

The gang, that has at least 15 members, used to operate in the city and nearby districts, they added.

Gang leader Kashem, once a Singapore expat, was arrested twice before but resumed the activities after coming out on bail. The other arrestees joined him several months ago, Rab said.