Listed criminal Nuru held in Noakhali

After many attempts, police in a drive yesterday arrested listed criminal and land grabber Nur Alam Nuru, who stands accused in at least 30 cases, from Noakhali.

"He was arrested from Companiganj through mobile tracking technology," said Faruque-ul-Haque, deputy commissioner (west) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, while addressing a press briefing at his office. During the drive police also arrested one of his accomplices.

Nuru is also convicted in an arms case, in which the court sentenced him to 17 years in prison, the official added.

"After his arrest, police conducted a raid at Nachia Ghona hill area, the den of Nuru, and recovered two firearms, sharp weapons and 400 yaba pills," he added.

DC Faruque said, "Nuru was raised in Akbar Shah area and worked as a 4th class employee in Foy's Lake area. He started living in the foot of the hill and later got involved in cutting hill and smuggling logs."

Eventually, he started drug peddling and started to grab portions of the hill, where he set up his group. He soon developed ties with local influential people including politicians.

Police are also looking for Nuru's accomplishes and those who sheltered him, said the official.

DC Faruque said eight cases against Nuru are now under investigation. Asked about the "mysterious disappearance" of the court's conviction warrant, he said police are looking into it.

DC Monjur Morshed of the Detective Branch (Bandar) of police said, "DB will investigate the case and seek seven-day remand for him."

Grabbing a government hill, Nuru built multiple buildings, tin-shed  houses, saw mills, cattle and chicken farms, a mosque, madrasa, and  graveyard and had been operating his illegal activities for a long time.

On December 26 last year, being informed that drug trafficking was going on in the area, Akbar Shah police conducted a drive at Nachia Ghona of Purba Firoj Shah Colony.

However, when they reached the iron gates, they were attacked by accomplices of Nuru, forcing law enforcers to leave the area, according to police sources.

Since then, Nuru had been on the run. but police in separate drives arrested 13 of his cohorts.