Dhanmondi Model Thana Police have arrested two members of a theft ring along with six battery-operated auto-rickshaws (colloquially referred to as “Teslas”, after the electric car manufacturer) following operations in various locations of the capital.
The arrestees are Nur Hossain (36) and Nizam (35).
According to Dhanmondi Thana sources, on 18 February at approximately 11:10pm, auto-rickshaw driver Raju (24) departed from Mohammadpur heading towards Dhanmondi with a passenger. After arriving in Dhanmondi, the passenger requested the driver to have some “labang” (food/drink mixed with sedatives).
Trusting him, the driver consumed it and became unconscious shortly after. Taking this opportunity, the thief fled with the auto-rickshaw. Following a complaint from garage owner Alamin, a regular case was registered at Dhanmondi Model Thana regarding this incident.
Dhanmondi Thana sources further stated that after the case was registered, Dhanmondi Thana police, with the help of intelligence, identified the location of those involved in the theft. Subsequently, on Wednesday night at approximately 12:20am, they conducted a raid at a garage in the Maneshwar Road area under Dhanmondi Thana and arrested Nur Hossain and Nizam. At that time, six auto-rickshaws were recovered from their custody.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that the arrestees are active members of this theft ring. Disguising themselves as passengers, they board rickshaws and cleverly make the drivers unconscious by feeding them drinks or food mixed with sedatives, then flee with the rickshaws.
They also steal battery-operated auto-rickshaws using various other deceptive tactics. Operations to arrest other members of this theft ring and recover more auto-rickshaws are ongoing.
