DHAKA: Detective police seized 21 stolen CNG-run auto-rickshaws and arrested four suspected ringleaders of a hijackers’ gang from different districts in an 18-hour nonstop drive to Monday morning.

The arrested suspects are Shahid alias ‘Kana’ Shahid, 40, Mukul Bhuiyan Kabir, 43, Dulal, 32, and Mintu alias ‘Noakhailla’ Mintu, 30.

Of the auto-rickshaws, nine were recovered from the capital’s South Keraniganj, eight from Shyampur and Jurain areas and two each from Mirzapur in Tangail and Bhairab in Kishoreganj.

Assistant Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mokhlesur Rahman told banglanews24.com.bd that they arrested them and recovered the auto-rickshaws in a nonstop raid from 10pm Sunday.

Based on information from conversation over mobile phone, a team of DB police (South) led Mokhlesur Rahman conducted a raid in Airport area and held the gang leader, Kana Shahid.

Police later arrested three other leaders according to Kana Shahid’s information.

The detectives said, “ The arrested persons confessed that the gang with more than 40 members is involved in lifting auto-rickshaws from different areas in the city.”

Sometimes they also snatched CNG scooters by beating up drivers. But, most of the time, they returned auto-rickshaws after taking at least Tk 50,000 to Tk 70,000 as ransom, sources said, quoting the hijackers.

The swindlers think twice about return of a stolen vehicle if its owner files case.

BDST: 1500, 28 July 2010
Corrs/TA/SMS/MUA