3 sent to jail in connection with Pallabi real estate office shootout
The accused were arrested from Baigartek area of the capital yesterday
Three individuals have been arrested and sent to jail today (13 July) in connection with a violent extortion attempt at a real estate office in Dhaka's Pallabi area that left one employee injured.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order after police presented them before the court and sought a seven-day remand for each.
The accused have been identified as Niloy Hossain Bappi (29), Mamun Mollah (33), and Rayhan (28). They were arrested from Baigartek area of the capital yesterday (12 July), police said.
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"All three were present during the attack," said Shaccu Biswas, sub-inspector at Pallabi Police Station, who is also the investigating officer.
The defence lawyers filed bail petitions and sought cancellation of the remand. After the hearing, the judge rejected both pleas and ordered the accused to be sent to jail.
"Efforts are ongoing to apprehend others involved," assured SI Biswas.
According to the case statement, the attack took place on Friday (11 July) at around 5pm at the office of AK Builders in the Alubdi Tek area.
A group of 30 to 40 assailants stormed the office with local weapons and opened fire, allegedly in retaliation after a Tk5 crore extortion demand was refused.
Witnesses said when company officials refused to pay, the attackers beat up staff and vandalised office property. As Shariful, a civil contractor, tried to intervene, one unidentified assailant shot him in the left leg below the knee, causing serious injury.
Shariful is currently receiving treatment at Kurmitola General Hospital.
The estimated damage to the office was around Tk1 lakh. Out of fear, the complainant eventually handed over Tk2 lakh to the attackers.
Later, Shariful filed a case at Pallabi Police Station.
Earlier on Thursday (10 July), AK Builders Chairman Kaiyum Ali Khan had filed a General Diary, reporting repeated threats and attacks, including two prior incidents on 27 June and 4 July.
His son, Aminul Ehsan, alleged the extortion demand came from a man named Jamil some three weeks ago.
