Police arrested 25 people during a massive crackdown in the remote Padma river char areas of Daulatpur upazila in Kushtia on Friday, aimed at curbing criminal activities, illegal occupation, and territorial dominance.
Around 200 members of Kushtia District Police conducted the drive from early Friday morning until noon across various remote locations in Ramkrisnopur, Chilmari, Philipnagor, and Moricha unions.
Faisal Mahmud, additional superintendent of police in Kushtia, said most of the 25 detainees are accused in multiple cases and have arrest warrants against them. Interrogation will determine whether any belong to active terrorist groups, noting that no weapons, drugs, or ammunition were recovered during the operation, he added.
According to police sources, multiple criminal groups have long used the remote Padma char areas as safe havens to control sand estates (balumahal), smuggle drugs and firearms, loot crops, and engage in gunfights over territorial dominance.