Police have arrested Tanim Reza alias Bappi, an alleged extortionist, and four of his associates along with firearms in the capital’s Motijheel area.
Four other arrestees are Md Jewel, 48, Shakil, 27, Md Manik Kazi, 50, and Rakibul Islam Bhuiyan alias Rizon, 35.
The arrestees were involved in a shooting targeting the office of a cattle market leaseholder in South Kamalapur and in threatening the businessman after demanding Tk 10 lakh in extortion through WhatsApp using a foreign phone number.
Mohammad Osman Gani, Additional Commissioner (Estate, Development and ICT) and Acting Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) disclosed it while briefing reporters at the DMP Media Centre on Saturday.
Three foreignmade firearms and seven rounds of ammunition were also recovered from their possession.
Osman Gani said members of the Motijheel Division of the DMP arrested Bappi and three of his associates near Hotel Purbani in Motijheel on Friday morning. Based on information got during interrogation and technological support, police later arrested another associate, Rakibul Islam Bhuiyan alias Rizon, from North Kamalapur.
Police said that on May 15, a businessman received death threats and a demand for Tk 10 lakh through WhatsApp from a foreign number. Four days later, on May 19, armed assailants opened fire targeting his office in South Kamalapur.
Following a case filed with Motijheel Police Station, investigators found the involvement of Bappi and his associates.
Based on information provided by the arrestees, police conducted a raid at Bappi’s office in South Kamalapur late on July 17 and recovered a foreign-made revolver, two foreign-made pistols, five rounds of revolver ammunition, two rounds of pistol ammunition, two magazines, an electric shock gun and a foreign-made Chinese axe.
A separate case under the Arms Act has been filed with Motijheel Police Station over the recovered weapons, Osman Gani said.
According to police, Bappi has seven cases filed against him with different DMP police stations on various charges including extortion, robbery, abduction, attempted murder, violence against women and children, and narcotics-related offences.
Legal action against the arrestees is underway, while efforts to arrest other associates and recover more illegal weapons are continuing, the DMP official added.