The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has compiled a list of influential patrons providing shelter and support to snatching gangs operating in the capital’s Uttara area.
Following a surge in broad daylight muggings and thefts at Uttara House Building and on Airport road, an intensive crackdown is currently underway to apprehend both the perpetrators and their enablers.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Neyamul Halim Chowdhury, the commanding officer (CO) of RAB-1, disclosed this information during a press conference held at the RAB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar on Tuesday. He mentioned that arrest operations against these patrons would be launched shortly.
According to the CO, these patrons provide muggers and drug dealers with shelter and facilitate their bail after they are arrested. “We are receiving a significant amount of information regarding those providing support from behind the scenes,” Chowdhury said.
“We have obtained several names which must remain confidential for the sake of the investigation, but we will arrest them through our operations.”,
Addressing the frequent crimes reported on the road between Airport and Gazipur, the CO noted that Uttara Division of the police recently conducted a two-day drive, arresting 82 individuals on the first day and approximately 100 on the second.
While some were handed over to the Department of Social Services, those with existing criminal cases were transferred to the relevant police stations. Additionally, last week, RAB arrested 17 individuals during raids at Tongi Railway Station and the Mazar Slum.
Despite these regular operations, the CO highlighted a persistent challenge: the proximity of numerous slums in the area leads to a “refilling” of criminal elements.
Records show that since the beginning of this year, approximately 1,200 individuals, including muggers, extortionists, and drug dealers, have been arrested.
In response to questions regarding the recent rise in drug-related murders, Chowdhury emphasized the need for comprehensive study. “There is a need for a study to understand why drugs are spreading and why murders are increasing,” he remarked.
Chowdhury suggested that government research institutions should investigate these trends to find a solution, adding that RAB could participate as a research partner to help resolve the issue effectively.
