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CUMILLA: Police have detained 370 people in the fifth phase of an ongoing anti-teen gang operation in Cumilla. Of them, 279 were released into the custody of their families after signing bonds, while legal action was taken against the remaining 91.
Four alleged gang members were arrested during the operation. The arrested included Imran Hossain, alias Ratan, the leader of the notorious “Ratan Group,” also known as “R Squad.”
District police media officer and Additional Superintendent of Police Md Lutfor Rahman confirmed the information to the media on Saturday night.
He said police had initially reported the detention of 363 people during Friday night’s operation. Later, four members of the Ratan Group and the “Crime Setup” gang, along with three others detained at a police station, brought the total to 370. Those released on bond will remain under close police surveillance.
According to police, Ratan, 25, is facing nine cases, including murder charges. Detective Branch (DB) police arrested him and his associate Saiful Islam, 20, during an operation in Cox’s Bazar on Friday night. Police described Saiful as Ratan’s “right-hand man”; he is also facing 10 cases.
Meanwhile, police in Cumilla city arrested two alleged leaders of the “Crime Setup” gang—Md Sabbir, alias Point Sabbir, 24, and Rabiul Islam Nabi, alias King Maker, 24.
The anti-teen gang operation has been underway since September 23, involving police from all 18 police stations in Cumilla and the DB. According to police figures, 624 people were detained in the first phase, 254 in the second, 415 in the third, 379 in the fourth and 370 in the fifth phase.
A total of 2,042 people have been detained across the five phases, of whom 1,409 have so far been released into the custody of their families after signing bonds.
Police said they are checking the detainees for links to gangs, involvement with drugs, previous criminal cases and arrest warrants. Legal action is being taken where evidence of specific offenses is found; otherwise, detainees are being handed over to their guardians.
The anti-teen gang drive was intensified in Cumilla following the murder of seventh-grade student Ishayat Shahriar Opratim. After he went missing on September 18, his body was recovered the following day from a forested area of Lalmai Hill in the Sananda area of Sadar Dakshin.
Additional Superintendent of Police Lutfor Rahman said, “No gang member who disrupts social peace and order or pushes teenagers toward crime will be spared. The law enforcement agencies’ operation will continue.”
