Police in Moulvibazar have arrested three people, including a man identified as a ‘robber gang leader’ named Rubel Mia, in connection with preparations for a robbery in the Baurbagh area of Sadar upazila.
Two pipe guns, 21 rounds of live ammunition and a used cartridge shell were also recovered.
Police said a group of 6–7 people gathered at a graveyard in Baurbagh area at around 10:30pm on 13 April to prepare for a robbery using firearms and ammunition.
When local residents noticed their activity and chased them, the gang opened fire. One of their own associates, Syed Shamsur Rahman Atik, 30, was shot during the incident. He was later detained with the help of locals.
A pipe gun and 21 rounds of ammunition were recovered from Atik, who is currently undergoing treatment at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Following the incident, police launched an investigation and conducted drives in Sylhet and Habiganj on 16 April. They arrested Rubel Mia, 40, and Ashraf Hossain, 29, from different areas.
Based on their information, police later recovered another pipe gun and an empty cartridge shell from a banana plantation in North Baranti area under Kamalpur union of Sadar upazila in Moulvibazar.
Moulvibazar Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam said all three arrested are active members of an inter-district robbery gang.
He added that Rubel Mia faces multiple cases related to robbery in the Sylhet region.
Police said drives are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.
