Keraniganj bank heist attempt: ‘Robbers’ called cops to save themselves from mob beating
The trio was detained following their failed robbery attempt, and two of them have already given confessional statements
Sensing their attempt to rob the Rupali Bank branch in Dhaka's Keraniganj on 19 December had already failed and mob beating was certain if they fell into the hands of an angry mob, the three robbers frantically called the police and pleaded to come first and save them.
Md Leon Molla alias Nirab, 22, plotted the robbery and lured 16-year-old Arafat and Sifat into carrying out the crimes, promising to give them Tk5 lakh each in return.
The trio was detained following their failed robbery attempt, and Arafat and Sifat already gave confessional statements in the case on 20 December.
The main perpetrator Leon, on the other hand, was placed on a three-day remand in the case.
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"Arafat and I are childhood friends. We got to know Leon 10/12 days earlier and at first, we used to talk about football. Leon approached us four/five days earlier with his plan to rob the bank, saying he would give us Tk5 lakh each in return. At first, we both refused the offer, but later we gave in," Sifat said in his confessional statement.
The two teenage robbers said that at first, they had plotted to rob a bank in the Kadamtali area and later zeroed in on the Rupali Bank branch in Chunkutia. They collected three toy pistols and stormed the bank at around 1:45pm on 19 December. They locked the gate from inside and took all the people hostage.
"We asked all including the security guard not to make any sound and sit on their knees by keeping their hands behind their backs. We said we would not harm anyone and leave the place after taking the money. All the people, except one, inside the bank followed our command," Sifat said.
The robbers at the time cut the cables of the CCTV cameras and broke the server hub of the bank. They took the mobile phones of all the hostages and took Tk18 lakh from the bank. As the manager was absent during the robbery, they could not get the keys to the vault and open it.
When the robbers stormed the bank and were taking all the people hostage, Officer Mohabbat Hossain secretly locked himself inside the guardroom and then called the bank manager and building caretaker to inform them about the ongoing robbery.
"We stashed Tk15 lakh inside a bag. Leon took Tk2 lakh more inside his pant pocket and I took Tk1 lakh inside my pocket. When we realised that people outside had already learned about our robbery attempt and we would surely die if they managed to detain us, Leon started calling the police and pleaded to come soon and save us," Afarat said in his confessional statement.
Confirming the statement, South Keraniganj police station Officer-in-Charge Mazharul Islam said Leon called them repeatedly and appealed to save them from the mob.
Leon has given valuable information in the remand and told police about the places from where they collected the toy guns and knife, he said.
