Robbery, molestation on bus: 2 confess in court, another placed on 5-day remand
According to their confession, four others, including their brothers-in-law, were involved in the incident
Two individuals, who were arrested for a highway robbery and alleged molestation of two female passengers on a moving Rajshahi-bound bus in Tangail, have given confessional statements in court.
The court of Tangail Senior Judicial Magistrate Naureen Karim recorded the confessional statements from 2pm to 7pm today (22 February) from Md Sabuj and Md Sharifuzzaman alias Sharif.
However, the court ordered a five-day remand for the other accused Md Shahidul Islam alias Mahidul alias Muhit.
The arrestees are suspected members of an inter-district robbery gang, police said earlier.
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Confirming the development, Investigating Officer SI Ahsanuzzaman of the district Detective Branch said this is the first robbery incident for which Sabuj and Sharif have given a confessional statement.
According to the police officer, they both mentioned that four others, including their brothers-in-law, were involved in the incident.
They also confessed to molesting two female passengers while forcibly taking their ornaments.
Muhit, who was granted remand, is accused in five other robbery cases, including two incidents on buses, the police official said.
Earlier on Friday night, the three accused were arrested from Savar. Police recovered three looted mobile phones, one knife, and cash amounting to Tk29,370 during the operation.
Tangail Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Mizanur Rahman previously told a press briefing that the arrests were made within 14 hours of a case being filed.
Contacted today, he said, "Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining gang members. A five-day remand has been granted for Muhit while Sabuj and Sharif have been sent to jail after they gave confessional statements."
The incident
On Monday night (17 February), a group of robbers boarded the bus and, over a span of three hours, looted passengers' belongings and molested female passengers.
Citing victims of the incident, media reports said the Unique Road Royals bus left Gabtoli at around 11pm on Monday with around 40 passengers. The robbery started at around 12:30am on Tuesday when the bus reached Tangail's Mirzapur.
The incident took place after the bus picked up some people from the road in the Chandra area of Gazipur.
Meanwhile, the bus supervisor, driver, and the driver's assistant were initially detained but they have been released on bail due to a lack of specific charges against them.
The Baraigram Administrative Court granted their bail plea on Wednesday (19 February), according to court sources.
They have been released on bail on the condition of appearing at the Mirzapur Police Station as the incident took place in an area under its jurisdiction.
A case has been filed three days after a robbery and molestation incident occurred.
