Khilkhet: Police have arrested six individuals in separate operations in the capital’s Khilkhet area on charges of robbery and operating a honeytrap scheme.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the arrested individuals are Shahapran, 30, Afzal Hossain, 40, Hanif, 40, Sagar Howlader, 28, Nasif Ankan, 28, and Farhad Sohan, 33. Shahapran, Afzal, and Hanif were apprehended in connection with a robbery that occurred on a paved road near Lakepar under Khilkhet Police Station at approximately 3:40 am on February 27. Authorities recovered a mini-truck and nine motorcycles reportedly stolen during the robbery. A private car used in the robbery was also seized.
In a separate case, the victim, Md Jasim Uddin, 38, a resident of Bashundhara Residential Area, was reportedly ensnared in a honeytrap. Jasim had befriended a woman named Hafiza through Facebook, who maintained regular communication with him. On February 21, Hafiza asked Jasim to meet her at the north gate of Khilkhet Rajuk Market. Upon his arrival, Sagar, Ankan, and Farhad allegedly surrounded him. Hafiza attempted to lure him to a restaurant on the fourth floor of Rajuk Market.
Suspicious of the situation, Jasim refused to go, but the trio allegedly detained and assaulted him, forcibly taking him to the restaurant. There, they allegedly confined him and took his mobile phone, driving license, and Tk 1,500 in cash, demanding more money. When their demands were not met, they returned the mobile phone and driving license but later demanded Tk 20,000 to return the phone, police reported.
A case was filed with Khilkhet Police Station following the victim’s complaint. Police, after analyzing CCTV footage and other information, arrested Sagar Howlader and Nasif Ankan near Rajuk Market at around 6:30 pm on February 28. Later that night, at around 10:30 pm, Farhad Sohan was arrested during a raid in the Nikunja-2 area, based on information obtained from the detainees. The victim’s driving license was recovered from their possession.
During initial interrogation, police indicated that the arrestees, along with the absconding suspect Hafiza, were members of an organized fraud and robbery gang. They allegedly targeted young men by creating fake social media accounts using women’s identities. Legal proceedings against the arrested individuals are underway.