Police have arrested three people while they were allegedly attempting to flee on a motorcycle after noticing police presence near the northern side of Rupsha Bridge in Khulna.
Police said a pistol, four rounds of ammunition and three cocktail-like explosive devices were recovered from them on Tuesday (September 29) evening. A motorcycle was also seized during the operation.
The arrested individuals were identified as Al Amin, 23, Rony Molla alias Kasai Rony, 28, and Swaran Jomaddar alias Sajal Jomaddar, 26.
Al Amin is a resident of the Mathabhanga Jute Mill area under Labanchara Police Station. Rony Molla’s permanent address is in Bagmara area of Rupsha Upazila, while Swaran Jomaddar is from the Labanchara area.
According to police, there is a privately owned cement unloading facility at a riverside ghat on the northern side of Rupsha Bridge. The facility is owned by Yunus Ali.
Police said Yunus had alleged that several people had been demanding extortion from him at different times while identifying themselves as members of local groups known as the “B-Company” and “Nur Azim Bahini.” He had also allegedly been threatened.
Following the complaint, cement unloading operations at the facility remained suspended on Tuesday, police said.
Police said they launched an operation to verify the allegations. At around 6:45pm on Tuesday, a police team reached an open area in front of Jalal Ahmed’s husk-and-straw mill on the northern side of Rupsha Bridge.
At that time, police spotted three people attempting to flee on a motorcycle while their faces were covered with helmets, masks and towels.
Police later chased and arrested them.
According to police, a search following the arrests led to the recovery of a pistol, four rounds of ammunition and three cocktail-like explosive devices. The motorcycle allegedly used by the suspects was also seized.
Labanchara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Syed Mosharaf Hossain said the three arrested individuals have multiple cases against them. Further legal action is underway, he added.
