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Police have arrested six people, including a dismissed army personnel, for allegedly abducting a businessman in Banshkhali, Chattogram, while posing as members of the SRB and demanding Tk 20 lakh as ransom.
The abducted businessman, Mohammad Ehsan, also known as Hasan, was rescued unharmed on Wednesday, four days after his abduction, from an area near Rohingya Camp-25 in Leda (Alikhali) of Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar.
Police seized a private car allegedly used in the abduction, five black vests bearing the letters “SRB”, two fake identity cards and a pair of handcuffs during the operation.
Chattogram Superintendent of Police Md Masud Alam disclosed the details at a press briefing at his office on Thursday afternoon.
He said police used information technology, intelligence and an analysis of the circumstances surrounding the incident to identify those involved. A joint team of the district Detective Branch (DB) and Banshkhali police conducted the operation, arresting the suspects and rescuing the businessman.
How the businessman was abducted
According to the SP, several men entered the businessman’s hardware shop, M/s Abdullah Enterprise, at Prem Bazar in Puichhari union of Banshkhali around 8:30pm on October 17.
The men were wearing black clothing, vests marked “SRB”, black caps and face masks. Introducing themselves as SRB members, they showed the businessman a photograph of his twin brother, Md Hossain, and insisted that he was Hossain.
Although the businessman identified himself, the alleged abductors handcuffed him with his hands behind his back and forcibly took him out of the shop. They first put him in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw before transferring him between different vehicles on the way to Cox’s Bazar, the SP said.
Tk 20 lakh ransom demanded
Around 11:40pm on the night of the abduction, the businessman’s wife and the shop manager began receiving calls from different Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) numbers.
The callers demanded Tk 20 lakh for his release and threatened to kill him if the money was not paid, police said.
Following a complaint lodged by the businessman’s brother, Md Hossain, a case was filed with Banshkhali Police Station. The DB and local police then launched a joint investigation to rescue the victim and arrest those involved.
Six arrested in Cox’s Bazar
Under the direction of SP Masud Alam, several teams led by Assistant Superintendent of Police of Anwara Circle Mahmudul Hasan and DB Officer-in-Charge Md Masud Rana conducted operations in Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Pekua, Ukhiya, Ramu and Teknaf.
On October 20, six suspects were arrested from the bus terminal, Banglabazar and Courtbazar areas of Cox’s Bazar Sadar, the SP said.
The arrestees were identified as dismissed army personnel Sumon Munshi; Mizanur Rahman, from Kashiani in Gopalganj; Zainal Uddin, from Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar; Md Abbas Uddin, from Ukhiya; Md Salim, also known as Selim, from Banshkhali; and Delwar Hossain, a resident of Rohingya Camp-26 in Teknaf.
Businessman rescued near Rohingya camp
Acting on information obtained from the arrestees, police conducted a special operation near Rohingya Camp-25 in Leda (Alikhali) around 4am on October 21 and rescued Hasan unharmed from the alleged abductors’ custody.
The seized items included the private car allegedly used in the abduction, five black vests marked “SRB”, two fake SRB identity cards and a pair of handcuffs.
Alleged criminal network
According to the SP, preliminary interrogation suggests that Sumon Munshi became acquainted with several members of the Rohingya community while serving with the SRB in Ukhiya. He was later dismissed from service over alleged involvement in criminal activities and served time in prison, where he reportedly came into contact with people involved in various crimes.
Police allege that he subsequently formed an organised group that used fake SRB identities to abduct people and demand ransom.
Investigators said Abbas Uddin and Delwar Hossain allegedly monitored potential victims in different areas and passed information to Sumon. Sumon and his associates would then abduct people while posing as SRB members and hold them in Rohingya camps while demanding ransom from their families, according to information obtained during preliminary questioning.
Previous cases against suspects
Police said Sumon Munshi faces 13 cases involving allegations including robbery, banditry and violations of the Arms Act.
Zainal Uddin has three cases involving alleged abduction, theft and robbery. Md Salim, also known as Selim, faces two cases under the Arms Act, while Abbas Uddin has one case under the Narcotics Control Act.
Police said the investigation is continuing to establish the roles of other people involved and determine whether the group committed additional crimes using fake SRB identities.