Police have arrested four suspected criminals along with firearms, ammunition, and weapon-making equipment in separate drives against an illegal arms syndicate in Chattogram city.
The successful operations were conducted jointly by the Detective Branch (DB-North) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) and Bayezid Bostami Police Station.
The information was disclosed at a press briefing held on Thursday at the CMP Police Lines Media Centre in Dampara by CMP Deputy Commissioner (DB-North) Md. Habibur Rahman and Deputy Commissioner (North) Md. Amirul Islam.
According to police, acting on a tip-off, a raid was carried out in the Dreamland Residential Area under Bayezid Bostami on the night of April 29. During the operation, Md. Hasan was detained while attempting to flee. A machete was recovered from his possession.
Based on information provided by him, police later raided his rented house in Khondokia Rajkhan Para of Hathazari in the early hours of April 30. The raid led to the recovery of two locally made shotguns, one single-barrel gun, 20 live cartridges, a shotgun barrel, three recoil springs, and three machetes.
Police believe Hasan was involved not only in storing illegal arms but also in manufacturing them. During primary interrogation, he reportedly confessed to using the weapons for intimidation, extortion, and violent criminal activities.
In a separate drive conducted by Bayezid Bostami Police Station, Nur Uddin Sohel was arrested from in front of a CNG garage on Link Road. Police recovered a foreign-made pistol, an empty magazine, 18 rounds of pistol ammunition, and two rounds of Chinese rifle bullets from him.
Following information given by Sohel, police arrested Tapash Palit alias Shimul from Cheragi Pahar area under Kotwali Police Station. Another foreign-made pistol and an empty magazine were recovered from his possession.
Later, based on Tapash’s confession, police arrested Dipak Kanti Dey from in front of Chairman Market in Wazedia area. Ten rounds of pistol bullets were recovered from him.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested suspects had long been involved in the illegal purchase, sale, supply, and distribution of firearms to various criminal groups.
Police officials said the recovery of foreign-made pistols and Chinese rifle ammunition is highly alarming, indicating plans for serious criminal activities.
Legal action against the arrested persons is underway, while drives are continuing to capture other members of the syndicate, police added.
