21 auto-rickshaws recovered

Detectives recovered 21 stolen CNG-run auto-rickshaws and arrested four members of a car lifter gang from different areas of the capital and outside it early yesterday.
Gang leader Mohammad Shahid alias Kana Shahid was arrested in airport areas at about 1:00am. And acting on information from him, his accomplices Makbul Bhuyan alias Kabir, Dulal, and Mintu alias Noakhaillia Mintu were arrested in Keraniganj within hours.
Deputy Commissioner of DB Monirul Islam told journalists that due to continued stealing of CNG-run auto-rickshaws over the last few months, they intensified their vigilance and have 'detected' 15 auto-rickshaw lifter gangs and 50 of their members so far.
On the recoveries and arrests made yesterday, Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Mukhlesur Rahman said three DB teams did this in simultaneous operations in and outside the capital.
Following information extracted from the arrestees, they recovered nine auto-rickshaws from South Keraniganj, eight from Shyampur Jurain, and two each from Mirzapur in Tangail and Bhairab in Kishoreganj.
He mentioned that Shewrapara resident Wajed Ali lodged a complaint with DB that his auto-rickshaw and its driver were missing since April 2. Three days later, an anonymous caller telephoned him demanding Tk 70,000 in exchange for getting back the vehicle. While investigating the incident, they traced the gang and recovered the stolen vehicles.
DC Monirul said the gang members usually move about in the guise of drivers and flee with vehicles. In some cases, they snatch vehicles after injuring or killing drivers, or using sedatives.
They take the auto-rickshaws outside the capital, and demand Tk 40,000 to Tk one lakh from the owners. If they do not get the money, they sell the vehicles using fake registration papers.
He noted that the victim owners usually do not come to law enforcers because they fear in that case they would not get back the stolen vehicles in exchange for payment to lifters if police fail to recover those.