Six 'robbers and their aides' held

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday detained six people who the elite force claimed to be members of an inter-district robbery gang.

The suspects were detained in different areas of Gazipur in the early hours.

Prodip Poddar, 41, the alleged gang leader, owns a jewellery shop at Aftab Plaza in Tongi, said Sarwar Bin Quasem, commanding officer of Rab-1, at a press briefing at its media centre in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.

The others are: Dulal Hossain, 30, a cloth trader; Rasel, 22; Zakir Hossain, 26, a carpenter; Kokila Begum alias Prerona, wife of Dulal; and his mother Hazera Begum alias Ajan.

Rab also seized 62.75 grammes of gold ornaments, four mobile phones, and Tk 11,000 in cash from them.

“Prodip used to buy robbed gold from the gang members at a cheaper rate and then resell it,” the Rab official claimed, adding that he also bailed out his gang members when they were arrested, and supported them financially.

Dulal was earlier caught in a video clip while conducting a robbery at a Tongi jewellery shop, the Rab official said.

THREE ARRESTED IN MURDER CASE

In a separate case, Rab-1 members arrested three people, including a man who allegedly strangulated his wife, the Rab-1 CO said.

The arrestees are Shahjahan Mia, Khokon and Mukul.

“Shahjahan, a Saudi expatriate, returned home six months ago and often used to quarrel with his wife Afroza Begum. On January 3, the couple locked into an altercation and at one stage, Shahjahan strangled Afroza to death over the issue,” the Rab official added.

Later, he dumped the body into the septic tank of his house with the help of his friends Khokon and Mukul in exchange of money, Rab said.