Massive hunt for other accused in extortion cases

The law enforcement agencies have launched a massive hunt to nab the absconding accused in six extortion cases filed against detained Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Mayor Sheikh Tayebur Rahman and his associates.
Meanwhile, during interrogation the detained KCC mayor has denied possessing the firearms and ammunition recovered by joint forces at his Khulna residence.
Deputy Commissioner of KMP South Division Masudul Alam told the journalists on Thursday night that they had launched drives to hunt down the absconding accused including ward commissioners, several KCC officials and the mayor's relatives who helped him in corruption during his tenure.
He said the airport authorities and immigration offices would be informed to prevent them from leaving the country, he said.
Deputy commissioners Masudul Alam and Shahadat Hossain, assistant police commissioners Idris Ali Bhuiyan, Anisur Rahman and Nesaruddin are taking part in the combing operations supervised by the KMP Commissioner Md Nazibar Rahman.
A total of six extortion cases had been filed against the KCC mayor and others on different dates this month.
Meanwhile, during interrogation the mayor said he knew nothing about the existence of any arms and ammunition at his residence where the party activists would come often.
An arms case was filed with Khulna Police Station against him after joint forces recovered a shutter-gun, 23 rounds of bullet, nine empty cartridges and seized a bottle of foreign liquor raiding his house on November 3 night.
He had been placed on a three-day remand from yesterday for interrogation in connection with the case.
Wishing not to be named, a senior KMP official said during interrogation the KCC mayor admitted to having an apartment at Gulshan and two plots in the capital in the names of his son and one of his three daughters.
Besides, there are two apartments in the US in the names of Tayebur's eldest daughter and grand-daughter.