A joint force led by the army has detained five individuals from a house in Kushtia, claiming they are members of an organised criminal gang.
On Tuesday night, the team conducted a raid at a three-story building adjacent to Ailchara Bazar in the Sadar upazila, seizing a foreign-made pistol, two rounds of ammunition, a large quantity of yaba tablets, and phensedyl.
Locals alleged that the detainees had been using the building as a criminal hideout for a long time. They reportedly turned the house into a “torture cell,” where kidnapped individuals were subjected to physical abuse. The victims’ families were then forced to pay large sums as ransom.
The detainees have been identified as Imran Khan Manik from Bagdanga area of Kushtia Sadar, Roni from Bara Ailchara, Sajib from South Katdah in Poradah Union under Mirpur police station, and Rabbi and Shakil from Chithlia village in the same union.
Locals claimed that under Manik’s leadership, the gang had created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in the area. Extortion, drug dealing, and acts of terror were reportedly part of their daily routine. However, news of the joint operation brought relief to the neighborhood, with many residents coming out to express gratitude to the law enforcement authorities.
Confirming the matter, Officer-in-Charge of Kushtia Model Police Station, Mosharraf Hossain, said: “Preparations are underway to file multiple cases against the arrested individuals under charges related to arms, narcotics, and abduction. Efforts are also being made to identify and arrest other members of the gang swiftly.”