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The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has arrested five members of an alleged honey-trap gang, including a woman, for allegedly blackmailing men after developing romantic relationships with them on social media and recording compromising photos and videos.
DB Chief Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam disclosed the information at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Sunday (October 25).
The arrestees are Jeet Bhakta alias Abdur Rahman, 38; Pritam Biswas alias Anik Sheikh, 30; Artha Jeet Bhakta alias Siddhartha, 20; Sabrin Kabir Prema alias Neha, 22; and Sadia Yasmin alias Mahi, 21.
According to police, Jeet Bhakta is the alleged ringleader. Pritam is his nephew, while Sabrin is Pritam’s wife.
Shafiqul Islam said detectives had been working to identify the gang for a long time following complaints from four victims. The suspects frequently changed residences and hideouts and operated social media accounts using fraudulently registered SIM cards, making it difficult for investigators to trace them.
Detectives eventually confirmed their whereabouts through surveillance and information technology and arrested the five from a residential building in the Turag Police Station area.
Police recovered five mobile phones, three blank cheques and items allegedly used for torture, including a torture belt.
According to the DB chief, the gang’s female members used different identities and social media accounts to develop romantic relationships with middle-aged and elderly men, particularly businessmen and wealthy individuals. They then lured the victims to designated residences or hotels.
Once the men arrivid.ed, the gang’s male members allegedly held them hostage, threatened and physically assaulted them, and recorded compromising photos and videos of them with the women.
The gang then allegedly extorted large sums of money by threatening to publish the footage on social media or send it to the victims’ relatives.
Shafiqul Islam said the extortion continued even after the victims paid once, as the gang repeatedly threatened to release the photos and videos to demand more money.
A case has been filed against the arrested individuals with Turag Police Station, the DB