Police have arrested three members of a criminal ring, including two close aides of top terrorist Rayhan and a leader of a Rayhan-controlled juvenile gang, along with locally-made weapons and ammunition while preparing for a robbery in Raozan Upazila of Chattogram.
Members of the District Detective Branch (DB) and Raozan Police Station conducted a joint raid at around 3:30am on Monday in front of the under-construction Mir Bagicha Muniria Yuba Tablig madrasa in Ward No 1 of Kadalpur Union and apprehended the trio.
The arrestees have been identified as Md Shahadat Hossain Sajjad, 30, of Shawal Khalifa Bari in Raozan; Md Zafar, 38, of East Raozan; and Md Safayet Hossain Sifat, 19, of East Raozan.
During the operation, law enforcers recovered one locally-made LG, two lead cartridges, a ramda, and a dagger from their possession.
According to Chattogram District Superintendent of Police Masud Alam, a patrol team from Raozan Police Station on “Special-8” night duty received secret information that a group had assembled in the Kadalpur area to commit a robbery.
After informing senior officers, a joint raid was launched by the Raozan police patrol team and members of the District Detective Branch. Sensing the presence of the police, other gang members managed to flee, but officers succeeded in capturing three suspects at the scene.
Citing information obtained during interrogation, police said that Shahadat Hossain Sajjad and Md Zafar operated as close associates of Rayhan, carrying out various criminal activities under his direction.
Initial investigations revealed that they collected extortion money from various individuals and business owners, engaged in illegal sand extraction, and collected funds from sand extraction to deliver to Rayhan. They also assisted in expanding Rayhan’s influence across Raozan and conducting various crimes on his instructions.
Meanwhile, police revealed that 19-year-old Safayet Hossain Sifat led a juvenile gang controlled by Rayhan. Under his leadership, gang members actively engaged in intimidating locals in various areas of Raozan, assisting in criminal operations, and playing an active role in Rayhan’s interest-related activities.
Police added that preliminary investigations are underway to identify others involved in these activities operated under Rayhan’s leadership and instruction. Drives are currently ongoing to trace and apprehend Rayhan’s remaining associates and members of the criminal ring.
Separate cases have been registered against the three arrested individuals at Raozan Police Station under the Arms Act and for preparation to commit robbery on charges of preparing for robbery and possessing illegal weapons in their custody.
