<i>Robbers, not cops</i>

There was no way of having a sneaking suspicion as they had everything on-duty policemen have. They were carrying wireless and handcuffs. A notebook was in their hand. Even the nameplates in place bore the names of policemen posted to the local outpost.
Besides outfit, they had a clear conception about the major concern now and used the issue of militancy to manage a safe and commendable entry to the house.
So no-one in the house of Yousuf Mollah in Shirir Chala in Gazipur doubted that they were robbers in disguise until they fled with Tk 4.7 lakh in cash and other valuables in the early hours Wednesday.
The disguised robbers entered the house two hours past midnight saying there is allegation of militancy against Yusuf's youngest son Jahangir, student of a university in the capital.
Their first task was to handcuff Yusuf's two other sons Shahjahan and Humayun, who has business in Qatar and came home four months ago, and confined them to a room.
In the name of searching the house they took Tk 4.2 lakh and some valuables and even made a seizure list to give it a more realistic touch.
As their mission was accomplished, they took the brothers outside and freed them before driving off in a microbus.
The house owner said two of the nine-member group were in uniforms. He said they thought others were plainclothes police.
Police sources say a nametag bore the name of Kamal, sub-inspector of the local outpost.
Shahjahan said they drew money from bank for construction of a building in their village home.
Assistant Superintendent of police Md Aktaruzzaman confirmed the incident last evening. He said local people might be involved as the robbers had right information regarding names of a policeman and youngest son of Yusuf.