Four members of a honeytrap ring have been arrested in Naogaon for allegedly luring a schoolteacher in a residence, holding him hostage, and extorting cash, a signed blank stamp paper, and a cheque for Tk2 lakh.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Tarikul Islam confirmed the arrests in a press release issued by the district police media cell on Thursday morning.
The arrestees have been identified as Chameli Akter Mili, 45, of Komaigari in Naogaon Sadar Upazila; Rakib Hasan, 29, of Berahasan in Atrai; Sohrab Hossain, 26, of Nihanpur in Badalgachhi; and Naim Hossain, 25, of Dupchanchia in Bogura.
According to the release, the victim is a teacher at a school in the Akkelpur area of Joypurhat who had prior mobile phone contact with Mili.
On the afternoon of 25 August, Mili invited him to her house in Naogaon town on the pretext of an urgent discussion.
As soon as the teacher arrived, the other members of the ring surrounded him and threatened him with physical violence.
They snatched Tk5,000 in cash from the teacher, held him hostage, and forced him to sign a blank non-judicial stamp paper worth Tk300 and a cheque for Tk2 lakh before releasing him.
Following a written complaint lodged by the victim at the police station, police conducted a week-long operation that led to the arrest of the four gang members.
Officers also recovered the signed blank stamp paper and the Tk2 lakh cheque from their possession.
SP Tarikul said the arrestees belong to an active inter-upazila blackmailing ring. He explained that the group lured targeted individuals to secluded spots under various pretexts before extorting large sums of money through threats of physical assault, photographs, or social dishonour.
Police confirmed that legal action has been taken against the suspects, and an investigation is underway to determine whether others are involved with the ring.
