Police have arrested two alleged professional muggers in connection with the brazen snatching of bags and valuables from two sisters outside their residence in Mohammadpur after they returned to Dhaka from their Eid holidays.
Police said the suspects were members of a professional mugging gang who previously lived in Mohammadpur but later shifted their base to Narayanganj to evade arrest while continuing to carry out muggings in the area.
A pickup van used in the crime, a machete and some of the stolen items have been recovered, although a trolley bag and a mobile phone remain missing.
Fazlul Karim, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Tejgaon Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), disclosed at a press briefing held at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road on Wednesday.
The incident occurred around 3:40am on May 31 when the two sisters returned to Dhaka from Thakurgaon after spending Eid holidays there. After getting off a vehicle with their belongings in front of their residence on Nurjahan Road in Mohammadpur, three men arriving in a pickup threatened them with a machete and snatched a trolley bag, a handbag and another bag before fleeing.
Police came to know about the incident through the national emergency service 999 and launched an investigation by collecting CCTV footage from the surrounding area. One of the victims later filed a case with Mohammadpur Police Station.
ADC Fazlul Karim said investigators first arrested Jewel after CCTV footage showed him loading the stolen bags into the pickup. Based on information provided by him, police conducted a raid in Bandar area of Narayanganj and recovered the pickup and machete used in the hijacking.
Police said Jewel has five cases filed against him at different police stations, including two narcotics cases, one robbery case and two cases related to violence against women and children, all currently under trial.
Later, another suspect, Anwar, was arrested in connection with the incident.
Responding to a question , the ADC said the driver and owner of the pickup was involved with the gang. Police have identified them and expect to arrest them soon.
He said Jewel was carrying the machete during the offence, while Anwar loaded the stolen bags onto the pickup van. Police have also identified another person believed to be the mastermind behind the crime, though his identity has not been disclosed in the interest of the investigation.
According to police, the stolen trolley bag has not yet been recovered. After learning about the arrest of one of the suspects, another accused allegedly instructed his wife to remove the bag, making its recovery difficult.
Fazlul Karim said police patrols have been strengthened in Mohammadpur and adjoining areas, particularly around bus stands and locations where passengers arrive in the early hours.
He added that special drives are being conducted daily to curb crime.
Assuring city residents, he said there was no reason to panic and that Dhaka Metropolitan Police remained committed to public safety.