Businessman abducted in Ctg over Tk50 lakh ransom demand, 8 arrested

Chattogram Metropolitan Police have arrested eight people for allegedly abducting a businessman in Panchlaish over outstanding business payments and demanding Tk50 lakh in ransom.

The victim, Md Helal Uddin, was rescued nearly two days after his abduction from an abandoned Forest Department cottage in the Mohamaya Lake area of Mirsarai.

Additional Police Commissioner (Crime) Muhammad Faisal Ahmed disclosed the information at a briefing at the Chattogram Metropolitan Police Lines media centre in Dampara at around 12:30pm today (10 September).

Police claimed Helal's former business partner Md Abul Hashem was involved in the abduction. According to police, Hashem and his son-in-law Md Akram hired an abduction gang for Tk1 lakh to recover around Tk4.69 lakh owed to Hashem. The gang later demanded Tk50 lakh from Helal's family.

The arrested are Md Abul Hashem, 52, his son-in-law Md Akram, 34, Md Shanto Mia, 32, Md Moin Uddin Raihan, 29, Amzad Hossain, 35, Mahbub Rahman, 26, Manik Hossain, 30, and Md Faruk, 34.

Police said Helal and Hashem had business dealings, with Hashem investing Tk9.30 lakh in the business. Helal repaid Tk4.61 lakh, leaving Tk4.69 lakh outstanding, which led to a dispute between them.

On 7 September at around 3:30pm, several people allegedly forced Helal into a white microbus in front of Roushan Boarding in the Shulakbahar area of Panchlaish. The vehicle's registration number was Chatt Metro Cha-11-9848.

The following day, the abductors allegedly called Helal's wife, Jesmin Akter, from his mobile phone and demanded Tk50 lakh in ransom, threatening to kill him if the money was not paid. They later pressured the family to pay Tk1 lakh.

Additional Police Commissioner Muhammad Faisal Ahmed said, "After receiving the information, we immediately analysed footage from various CCTV cameras. At the same time, we tracked the movements of the microbus used in the abduction through technological data."

"We first arrested Shanto Mia from the Uttar Kattali area. Based on information provided by him, we arrested the mastermind, Abul Hashem. We later identified the locations of the others based on information provided by them," he added. 

According to police, Akram was arrested from the Latifpur area under Akbar Shah Police Station based on information provided by Hashem and Akram. Helal's mobile phone was recovered from him.

During interrogation, police learnt that Helal was being held in the Mohamaya Lake area of Jorarganj in Mirsarai. A team, assisted by Jorarganj police, subsequently raided an abandoned Forest Department cottage inside the Mohamaya Lake area and rescued Helal.

Moin Uddin Raihan, Amzad Hossain, Mahbub Rahman, Manik Hossain and Faruk were also arrested from the spot.

Faisal Ahmed said the main motive behind Helal's abduction was to recover money owed from the business dispute. However, the abductors later demanded Tk50 lakh in ransom. 

"Police have various pieces of evidence, including audio recordings, regarding the ransom demand," he said.

Asked whether the arrested suspects had any previous cases against them, he said no cases had been found against them so far. Their political affiliations were also being verified.

The additional police commissioner said their involvement in any other crimes would be determined through interrogation in remand. Police are also investigating whether anyone else was involved in the abduction gang.

Speaking to TBS about the business dispute, Helal said, "Abul Hashem was owed Tk4.69 lakh by me. We had business dealings involving vehicles. I used to do business with him. There can be debts and dues in business. I was also paying off the money I owed him. Basically, our dispute was over the money."

He added, "However, after abducting me, the people who were arrested threatened me, claiming to be members of Boro Sazzad's group."

Police said they had not been able to confirm any link between the abductors and Boro Sazzad's group or any other criminal gang.

Police will seek remand for the arrested suspects to gather further information through interrogation.

No political pressure to arrest Boga: CMP

Meanwhile, Additional Police Commissioner (Crime) Muhammad Faisal Ahmed said there was no political pressure on police to arrest Wakil Hossain alias Boga, who is accused of attacking police in Khulshi, Chattogram.

"There's no pressure. Operations to arrest him are continuing. I have personally led an operation to arrest him," he said.

Asked how Boga held several press conferences with journalists after fleeing a police operation, Faisal said he had done so from undisclosed locations.

"Boga is now on the run. Efforts are underway to arrest him. We will arrest him," he said.