6 held over Adabar robbery, attack on police

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Wednesday has arrested six people, including alleged top criminal Farid Uddin Babu alias “Excel Babu”, in connection with a robbery at a bKash shop in Dhaka’s Adabar area and an attack on police personnel during a subsequent operation.

The arrests were made during separate raids conducted overnight in Mohammadpur, Adabar and Mirpur, said RAB.

The other arrested persons are Abu Sayeed, described by RAB as the second-in-command of the “Kobji Kata Group”, Rashed Khandaker, Md Liton, Md Tasir and Md Tarikul Islam.

RAB-2 Commander Additional DIG Naimul Hasan disclosed the information at a press briefing at the force’s media centre in Karwan Bazar.

He said law enforcers recovered a motorcycle allegedly used in the robbery, sharp weapons and mobile phones from them.

According to RAB, a group of armed robbers entered a bKash agent shop at Shekhertek-7 area under Adabar Police Station around 10:30AM on Tuesday. They allegedly attacked the shop owner with machetes and fled with around Tk 3 lakh in cash and a mobile phone.

Following the incident, police launched an operation in the Turag Housing area based on intelligence information. During the operation, the robbers allegedly attacked police personnel with locally made weapons.

Adabar Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Zaidul Islam and Sub-Inspector Tarun were seriously injured in the attack.

Police later opened fire in self-defence, leaving two suspects, Amir and Rubel, injured. Four suspects, including the injured individuals, were subsequently detained by police.

RAB later started a special operation to arrest the alleged masterminds behind the robbery and recover weapons used in the crime.

Naimul Hasan said Excel Babu was the mentor of the “Kobji Kata Group” and had links with the gang’s leader Anwar and its second-in-command Abu Sayeed.

“Excel Babu himself admitted his involvement with the group. He has been providing shelter and support to criminals involved in robbery, extortion and other criminal activities,” he said.

Regarding measures against organised crime, Naimul Hasan said effective investigations and speedy trials were necessary to ensure public safety.

“RAB only arrests suspects and conducts investigations. The criminal justice system as a whole needs to work together to ensure quick justice,” he added.

TZ