Dhaka: The Special Response Battalion (SRB)-4 has successfully detained a suspected active member of a criminal gang in relation to the recent shooting at the residence of a journalist in Pallabi. The operation led to the recovery of a foreign-made pistol, a magazine, and nine live bullets, marking a significant breakthrough in the case.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the individual arrested is Md Atik, also known as Chora Atik, aged 22. He is accused in the case concerning the attack on Bangla TV reporter Pranto Parvez, which occurred at Pranto's home in the Sabuj Bangla area of Pallabi at approximately 1:35 am on September 15. Initial investigations indicate that the attack followed a recent news report exposing the criminal activities and extortion allegedly conducted by an individual named Ashik, as revealed by Lt Col Hafizur Rahman, commander of SRB-4, during a press briefing at the SRB Media Centre in Karwanbazar.
The SRB-4 team apprehended Atik from Mohammadia Market in Pallabi around 1:30 am on Wednesday. This arrest was based on information collected through CCTV footage, technological means, and intelligence sources. Atik disclosed to investigators that his associates, identified as Robin, Ibrahim, Shahin alias Shooter Shahin, and Al Amin, were also involved in the attack.
Following Atik's information, a raid was conducted in front of Avenue-5 in Section-11, Pallabi. The suspects managed to evade capture after detecting the presence of law enforcement. However, a foreign-made pistol, an empty magazine, and nine live bullets were recovered from behind a tin-shed house in the vicinity. Earlier, an SRB-4 team had raided the residence of Robin in Taltala slum, Pallabi, on September 15, but he managed to escape. During this raid, his mother, identified as alleged drug dealer Doli Begum, 45, was arrested and found in possession of 745 yaba tablets and 15 grams of yaba powder, valued at approximately Tk 2.70 lakh.
In a separate operation, SRB-4 apprehended death-row convict Sohel Rana, 38, from Azimpur in Singair, Manikganj, on Tuesday evening. Rana had escaped from Kashimpur High Security Central Jail on August 6, 2024, following a prison breach amid nationwide unrest. He was sentenced to death in 2019 for the murder of Jahir, 20, whose body was dismembered and disposed of in a nearby river.
Additionally, in another operation in Pallabi on Tuesday night, SRB-4 arrested alleged teenage gang member Md Niloy Sujon, 31. He was found with six mobile phones, two machetes, and a small packet of cannabis. The arrested suspects have been handed over to the respective police stations for legal proceedings.