Seasonal criminals are gearing up in order to swindle money out of cross-sections of people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha and will be in desperation to victimize people, according to a handful of police officials.
‘Agyan (dope) party’ members are planning to target cattle traders and buyers while fake currency rackets are allegedly manufacturing, marketing and distributing fake notes through their agents. On the other hand, muggers may also try to carry out their jobs as usual during Eid whereas robbers are already on the prowl to commit robberies.
During a video conference with top police officials last Thursday, Inspector General of Police Dr Benazir Ahmed said that certain types of crimes may increase due to corona crisis and Eid-ul-Azha. He directed all concerned operational units to increase patrol to prevent theft, robbery and other crimes in the residential and commercial areas of the country.
Getting necessary instructions from the Police Headquarters, all operational units of Bangladesh Police have been on guard so that mass people can observe upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest festivals of the Muslim community, without any hitch.
Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Headquarters (Media and Public Relations) Sohel Rana said, “All units of police have been instructed to be vigilant. We have also taken special measures taking the upcoming Eid into account.”
Police are also conducting raids to arrest professional criminals, he added.
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Monday arrested four members of Agyan party from city’s Badda area. The arrested were identified as Masud, Mamun Hossain alias Sattar, Sumon alias Musa and Sumon. A rope, a towel and some sleeping pills were recovered from their possessions.
Special Superintendent (SS) of CID Mohammad Kamruzzaman said, “Agyan party members are trying to be active keeping cattle markets in mind as the target spots.”
On July 21, Rapid Action Battalion arrested two members of fake currency gang along with 1 crore fake notes from the capital's Maghbazar. They were identified as Rifat and Palash.
RAB-2 Deputy Commander Major HM Parvez Arefin said, “The arrested criminals were preparing to distribute fake notes ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. They mainly distribute these fake notes in the cattle markets. Apart from this, they can also easily spread fake notes at the shopping malls as people will be in rush for Eid shopping.”
Arrested criminals admitted that one week ago, they distributed fakes notes worth Tk 60 lakh.
Earlier on July 19, Detective Police (DB) unit of DMP arrested three persons along with 35 lakh counterfeit notes and a piece of equipment in a raid in city’s Bangshal and Keraniganj of Dhaka district.
The arrested were identified as Alam Hossain, Saiful Islam alias Lamu and Md. Ruble. According to DB police, the gang was making fake notes to be distributed during Eid-ul-Azha.
Meanwhile, on July 18, some criminals robbed a house located in capital’s Badda and looted goods worth Tk 35 lakh.
Badda police arrested four members of the gang involved in the incident. The arrested were identified as Khandaker Ziaur Rahman alias Rafiqul Alam alias Mashiur Rahman Mishu, Faisal, Al Amin and Rana Hossain.
On the other hand, DB arrested seven members of an organized gang from Kadamtali area of the capital on Wednesday. The arrested were identified as Sattar, Nurul Islam alias Kalu alias Kalu alias Abul Kalam, Rana Mia, Kanchan Mia, Nurul Amin alias Nuru, Ibrahim Khalil and Shahidul Islam. DB also seized Tk 36,350 in cash, two laptops and seven mobile phones from their possessions.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of DB Md Ashrafullah said, “During primary interrogation, the arrested admitted that they target mobile banking shops or any other shops. They first appear in the targeted shops as customers and keep the shopkeepers busy while bargaining the price of different products. Other members of the gang, in the meantime, steal money, laptops, mobile phones and other items.”
