Aggressive policing needed, kingpins must be arrested to break criminal networks: RAB-2 chief

Additional DIG Noymul Hasan, commanding officer of RAB-2, has said aggressive policing is needed to dismantle criminal networks, warning that associated groups will remain active unless ringleaders are arrested.

"Until we can arrest these kingpins, the branches will remain active. That is why we want aggressive policing," he said at a briefing at the RAB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar today (17 June), after the force arrested six people over a robbery at a bKash agent outlet in Mohammadpur's Adabor area and an attack that injured the officer-in-charge of Adabor Police Station and a sub-inspector.

The arrestees are Farid Ahmed Babu alias Excel Babu, described by RAB as a listed criminal in Mohammadpur; Abu Sayeed, whom RAB identified as the second-in-command of the Kabjikata Anwar group; Rashed Khondokar; Md Liton; Md Tawsif; and Md Tarikul Islam.

Noymul said the robbery took place around 11am on Tuesday when bKash agent Shafiqul Islam, 39, was hacked at his shop in Shekhertek-7 in Adabor. The assailants allegedly fled with Tk3 lakh in cash and a bKash mobile phone.

Later in the afternoon, police raided a hideout of the suspected robbers behind Delta Garments in Adabor, he said.

During the operation, Adabor Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Islam and Sub-Inspector Tarun Kumar were injured in machete attacks, according to RAB.

Noymul said RAB-2 increased intelligence surveillance in the area after receiving information about the incident to arrest those involved and recover the weapons used in the crime.

Based on intelligence, a RAB-2 team carried out overnight raids in Mohammadpur and Mirpur's Pirerbagh area and arrested the six suspects, he said.

A motorcycle allegedly used in the robbery and a sharp weapon described by RAB as a samurai sword were seized during the operation, he added.

A case is being filed over the incident.

Responding to a question, Noymul said Sayeed told RAB during preliminary questioning that he was the second-in-command of the Kabjikata Anwar group.

"We have information that after Anwar's arrest, he has been acting as the kingpin of this entire nexus. Excel Babu is also the mentor of Kabjikata Anwar," he said.

Referring to Tuesday's attack on police, he said the arrestees were linked to Excel Babu and Abu Sayeed.

"In the interest of public safety, we want to bring this gang to the surface," he said.

Asked whether there were weaknesses in the current judicial process, he said, "There is no weakness. Laws change over time according to people's needs."