nd other goods. After several years they started committing theft at mobile phone and jewellery shops. After being arrested in two cases gang leader Yakub secured bail and fled to Dubai. Later, Sakur Mahmud alias Sukkur became the leader of the gang. Under the directive of the new leader the gang embarked on looting money by breaking bank vaults in 2007. These looters are suspected to have looted gold ornaments worth Tk 50 crore from Brac bank locker/vault and rail bhaban in Dhaka, three banks of Faridpur, Barisal, Raujan and macro hunts of Lalkhan bazaar, Universal Jewellery of Riaz Uddin bazaar, three jewellery shops at Lucky Plaza, one jewellery shop each at Boddarhut, Bandar area in Chittagong and Brahmanbaria district. Investigation revealed that at least 23 members of these most daring bank looter gang are active now. Although 12 of them were arrested in burglary cases, they secured bail and started committing crimes again. ‘Vault master’ Raza Miah the mastermind of the latest incident of looting about Tk 2 crore by breaking the wall of Brac bank Joypurhut branch on September 26 is one of the members of this gang. Raza got bail after being arrested in the incident of looting of 250 tola gold from Brac bank at Kalabagan in Dhanmondi of the capital in 2008. After that he committed theft at banks in Tangail and Jamalpur. Swapon Debonath, who was arrested with Raza on Thursday, is also a member of the gang of Sukkur of Chittagong. He was arrested in the case for stealing five and half kg gold from Universal Jewellery of Golden Plaza in Riaz Uddin bazaar area of Chittagong in 2012. Afterwards getting bail he joined with Raza and conducted the operation at Joypurhut branch of Brac bank. According to information gathered from those arrested by police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) there are five gangs, including that of Sukkur of Chittagong, who are engaged in big burglary at banks and jewellery shops. There are over one hundred members in these gangs. Their main target is rural branches of banks. Sometimes by cutting the roof, sometimes creating underground holes, sometimes holding security people hostage at gunpoint and sometimes by killing the security personnel they break open the vault and loot the money. Responsible officials of police and RAB said even though they are arrested, they secure bail and continue to commit the crimes. Although they loot wealth worth crores of Taka cases of burglary are filed against them due to legal limitations of law. Taking this advantage the daring members of looter gangs secure bail easily. The lawyers admitted the fact of release of the accused persons getting bail. They advised the officials concerned to be aware of investigating into burglary and submitting report in the incidents of bank robbery. Advocate Moslehuddin Jashim, general secretary of Dhaka Bar Association, said the court grants bail on the basis of merit of the case. It is the discretion of the court to grant bail. If the looted money and articles are recovered, the accused persons are not supposed to get bail. Sometimes, police detain innocent persons on suspicion. In that case, the real criminals may be released on bail following weakness of the investigation. Case should be filed under section 380 of the Penal Code for theft in a dwelling-house. Whereas, case should be filed under section 461 for dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property or bank vault. Meanwhile, case should be filed under section 457 for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence like robbery. If five or more persons commit robbery showing arms and by intimidation, a dacoity case may be filed. The bank robbery is not a petty offence. It is punishable with imprisonment for 7 years. A RAB official said the bank robbery in Dhanmondi is a sensational case. Although the incident took place six years ago, the offenders are yet to be punished. Being released on bail, the notorious offenders have a chance to commit similar crimes again. Lt Col Abul Kalam Azad, director of RAB intelligence wing, said Raja Mia and Swapon Debnath who are expert in breaking vault continue to commit crimes after being released on bail. “We have unearthed the mystery of Kishoreganj and Joypurhat bank robbery. Our effort is underway to nab the gang.” He regretted that the simple burglary cases are being filed for the incidents of bank robbery. He said the bank authorities should intensify their security measures to fend off such incidents in future. The wall of Joypurhat was only 5 inch thick. The bank officials should examine as to whether the offenders can enter the vault area cutting the walls from any nearby and adjoining buildings. Nine persons have been arrested in connection with robbing Tk 96 lakh breaking vault of BRAC Bank in Joypurhat so far. Joypurhat OC Abdur Rashid said a case was filed under section 380 in this regard. He said although money was looted, the incident does not deserve a dacoity case. It is learnt that Raja Mia of Munshiganj is the mastermind of Joypurhat incident. He is son of Bhola Mia of Noskorpur village at Srinagar upazila under Munshiganj. He is identified as “vault master” of Sukkur syndicate of Chittagong. He is capable of breaking any type of vault within 10-15 minutes. On January 5, 2008, a gang of robbers looted money and gold ornaments breaking 75 lockers and 62 vaults entering BRAC Bank located at the first floor of Hotel Nid Mahal at Dhanmondi. Same Raja Mia was involved in breaking the locker then. Duplicate keys were used. DB police arrested four persons including Raja Mia and Saheb. Gold ornaments were recovered from Mirpur area. Detective Branch (DB) received information that Raja Mia, Shaheb Alam Chowdhury, Moshiur Rahman Raju, Fazlul Haque, Hawa Bibi, Abu Hanif, Rustom, Dev Kumar Chanda, Sukumar Chokrobarty, Abu Taher, Mashuk, Abdul Mannan, Mohammad Shakur, Mahmud alias Shukkur, Yousuf Ali, Abdul Halim and Mofazzal Hossain were involved with the incident. But Raja Mia and other four members of the gang were released on bail after two-year jail term. Raja Mia after being arrested by the RAB confessed that he was accused in two burglary cases relating to Jamalpur and Tangail bank heists. In the jail, Shamim, another accused of a burglary case was able to develop a relationship with the notorious dacoit Raja. They became united after release on bail from the jail. Police is investigating in previous involvement of Shamim, son of Mozzaffar Hossain at Sharna village in Barisal with the bank loot incident. When asked about Kalabagan bank loot case, Krishnapada Roy, Deputy Commissioner (South) of DB told this correspondent that we unearthed the mystery about the Kalabagan bank loot incident by arresting some accused persons. I was not there but I know that chargesheet of the case was submitted. Intelligence sources said that dacoits looted five kg gold ornaments from a jewellery shop named Universal Jwellery located at Golden Plaza at Reazuddin Bazar in Chittagong during Eid vacation in 2012. In the incident, police arrested Abu Taher, Swapan Devnath and Nurul Alam alias Khuru with cash and gold ornaments. Khuru in his confessional statement said to the court that Taher, Swapan Devnath, kamal, Feroz, Badsha and Mohammad Ali are also the members of their group. According to his statement it was learnt that some 25 members of the group were involved in the incident led by Yakub Ali and Shukkur. Of them, Raja Mia, Moshiur Rahman Raju, Abu Hanif of Bagerhat, Rustom, Kabir Gazi, Atiqur Rahman Swapan of Chittagong. The same group looted the Dhanmondi branch of the bank and they were involved in 14 big burglary cases across country, police sources said. Sources said that two people were released on bail accept Khuru, who confessed to robbery at bank. After release on bail, Swapan Devnath took part in Joypurhat bank dacoity incident. He claimed after arrest by RAB on Thursday that he was working as an Ansar member at Chittagong Port from 1995 to 2004 on contract basis. After termination of his contract, he joined Raja-Shamim syndicate for looting bank. When asked about bail of the accused, Nizam Uddin, Inspector (Investigation) of Kotwali thana in Chittagong told this correspondent, “What should we do if an accused is released on bail in burglary case? We submitted chargesheet last year to the court.” It is learnt that miscreants looted Tk 72 lakh by killing Ayub Ali, a security guard, of Islami Bank of Kaliganj branch in Jhenidah during Eid vacation on October 19 last year. Bank manager Mahmud Hasan said that dacoits broke the lock of the bank vault using nitric acid. They used gloves in their hands so that police cannot detect their finger print. Dacoits also took the CC camera of the bank while they left the spot. Meanwhile, some Tk 1.62 crore was looted from a branch of National Bank in Natore on September 7, 2009. Police arrested 15 persons including the mayor of Bagatipara Pourashava Mosharraf Hossain on suspicion of their involvement in the incident. Later they got bail. When asked, Faridul Islam, officer-in-charge of Natore police station over phone, said “I was not there during the incident. It seems that the investigation report has been given and I am enquiring about that.” Miscreants looted a total of Tk 77lakh and 22 thousand from a branch of Islami Bank in Jhalakathi on October 1, 2012. Though police arrested six persons in connection with this incident, later the accused got the bail in burglary case. The investigation officer, sub-inspector (SI) Abdur Rahim of Jhalakathi police station said charge sheet has been filed accusing 11 persons and the case is under trial. The most sensational bank looting incident took place on January 26, last year in Kishoreganj as miscreants looted some Tk 16.40 crore from Kishoreganj branch of the state-run Sonali Bank by creating underground hole in the building. Two days after the incident, two persons named Habib and Idris were arrested by RAB at Shampur area in the capital with the looted money containing five sacks. After the arrest, Habib admitted that he alone had been creating underground hole in the building for one and half years after managing a rented house adjacent to the bank building while he was assisted by his uncle-in-law named Siraj. But RAB could not arrest Siraj in this connection. The then officer in-charge of Kishoreganj police station Abdul Malek said no matter how big the incident is but the case is a burglary one under sections 461/380 of penal code. Several sources said some Tk 90 lakh was looted from a BRAC Bank branch at South Surma of Sylhet on September 30 last year. RAB-9 arrested six persons in this incident on October 8. Later all the accused got bail. The actual cause of this incident has not been unearthed later. On the other hand, police could not unearth the incident of looting Tk 58 lakh from a branch of Pubali Bank in Kurigram on June 23 last year, though night guard Habibur Rahman was arrested on suspicion of his involvement of this incident and later got bail.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Frequent bank robberies:Daily Sun
nd other goods. After several years they started committing theft at mobile phone and jewellery shops. After being arrested in two cases gang leader Yakub secured bail and fled to Dubai. Later, Sakur Mahmud alias Sukkur became the leader of the gang. Under the directive of the new leader the gang embarked on looting money by breaking bank vaults in 2007. These looters are suspected to have looted gold ornaments worth Tk 50 crore from Brac bank locker/vault and rail bhaban in Dhaka, three banks of Faridpur, Barisal, Raujan and macro hunts of Lalkhan bazaar, Universal Jewellery of Riaz Uddin bazaar, three jewellery shops at Lucky Plaza, one jewellery shop each at Boddarhut, Bandar area in Chittagong and Brahmanbaria district. Investigation revealed that at least 23 members of these most daring bank looter gang are active now. Although 12 of them were arrested in burglary cases, they secured bail and started committing crimes again. ‘Vault master’ Raza Miah the mastermind of the latest incident of looting about Tk 2 crore by breaking the wall of Brac bank Joypurhut branch on September 26 is one of the members of this gang. Raza got bail after being arrested in the incident of looting of 250 tola gold from Brac bank at Kalabagan in Dhanmondi of the capital in 2008. After that he committed theft at banks in Tangail and Jamalpur. Swapon Debonath, who was arrested with Raza on Thursday, is also a member of the gang of Sukkur of Chittagong. He was arrested in the case for stealing five and half kg gold from Universal Jewellery of Golden Plaza in Riaz Uddin bazaar area of Chittagong in 2012. Afterwards getting bail he joined with Raza and conducted the operation at Joypurhut branch of Brac bank. According to information gathered from those arrested by police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) there are five gangs, including that of Sukkur of Chittagong, who are engaged in big burglary at banks and jewellery shops. There are over one hundred members in these gangs. Their main target is rural branches of banks. Sometimes by cutting the roof, sometimes creating underground holes, sometimes holding security people hostage at gunpoint and sometimes by killing the security personnel they break open the vault and loot the money. Responsible officials of police and RAB said even though they are arrested, they secure bail and continue to commit the crimes. Although they loot wealth worth crores of Taka cases of burglary are filed against them due to legal limitations of law. Taking this advantage the daring members of looter gangs secure bail easily. The lawyers admitted the fact of release of the accused persons getting bail. They advised the officials concerned to be aware of investigating into burglary and submitting report in the incidents of bank robbery. Advocate Moslehuddin Jashim, general secretary of Dhaka Bar Association, said the court grants bail on the basis of merit of the case. It is the discretion of the court to grant bail. If the looted money and articles are recovered, the accused persons are not supposed to get bail. Sometimes, police detain innocent persons on suspicion. In that case, the real criminals may be released on bail following weakness of the investigation. Case should be filed under section 380 of the Penal Code for theft in a dwelling-house. Whereas, case should be filed under section 461 for dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property or bank vault. Meanwhile, case should be filed under section 457 for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence like robbery. If five or more persons commit robbery showing arms and by intimidation, a dacoity case may be filed. The bank robbery is not a petty offence. It is punishable with imprisonment for 7 years. A RAB official said the bank robbery in Dhanmondi is a sensational case. Although the incident took place six years ago, the offenders are yet to be punished. Being released on bail, the notorious offenders have a chance to commit similar crimes again. Lt Col Abul Kalam Azad, director of RAB intelligence wing, said Raja Mia and Swapon Debnath who are expert in breaking vault continue to commit crimes after being released on bail. “We have unearthed the mystery of Kishoreganj and Joypurhat bank robbery. Our effort is underway to nab the gang.” He regretted that the simple burglary cases are being filed for the incidents of bank robbery. He said the bank authorities should intensify their security measures to fend off such incidents in future. The wall of Joypurhat was only 5 inch thick. The bank officials should examine as to whether the offenders can enter the vault area cutting the walls from any nearby and adjoining buildings. Nine persons have been arrested in connection with robbing Tk 96 lakh breaking vault of BRAC Bank in Joypurhat so far. Joypurhat OC Abdur Rashid said a case was filed under section 380 in this regard. He said although money was looted, the incident does not deserve a dacoity case. It is learnt that Raja Mia of Munshiganj is the mastermind of Joypurhat incident. He is son of Bhola Mia of Noskorpur village at Srinagar upazila under Munshiganj. He is identified as “vault master” of Sukkur syndicate of Chittagong. He is capable of breaking any type of vault within 10-15 minutes. On January 5, 2008, a gang of robbers looted money and gold ornaments breaking 75 lockers and 62 vaults entering BRAC Bank located at the first floor of Hotel Nid Mahal at Dhanmondi. Same Raja Mia was involved in breaking the locker then. Duplicate keys were used. DB police arrested four persons including Raja Mia and Saheb. Gold ornaments were recovered from Mirpur area. Detective Branch (DB) received information that Raja Mia, Shaheb Alam Chowdhury, Moshiur Rahman Raju, Fazlul Haque, Hawa Bibi, Abu Hanif, Rustom, Dev Kumar Chanda, Sukumar Chokrobarty, Abu Taher, Mashuk, Abdul Mannan, Mohammad Shakur, Mahmud alias Shukkur, Yousuf Ali, Abdul Halim and Mofazzal Hossain were involved with the incident. But Raja Mia and other four members of the gang were released on bail after two-year jail term. Raja Mia after being arrested by the RAB confessed that he was accused in two burglary cases relating to Jamalpur and Tangail bank heists. In the jail, Shamim, another accused of a burglary case was able to develop a relationship with the notorious dacoit Raja. They became united after release on bail from the jail. Police is investigating in previous involvement of Shamim, son of Mozzaffar Hossain at Sharna village in Barisal with the bank loot incident. When asked about Kalabagan bank loot case, Krishnapada Roy, Deputy Commissioner (South) of DB told this correspondent that we unearthed the mystery about the Kalabagan bank loot incident by arresting some accused persons. I was not there but I know that chargesheet of the case was submitted. Intelligence sources said that dacoits looted five kg gold ornaments from a jewellery shop named Universal Jwellery located at Golden Plaza at Reazuddin Bazar in Chittagong during Eid vacation in 2012. In the incident, police arrested Abu Taher, Swapan Devnath and Nurul Alam alias Khuru with cash and gold ornaments. Khuru in his confessional statement said to the court that Taher, Swapan Devnath, kamal, Feroz, Badsha and Mohammad Ali are also the members of their group. According to his statement it was learnt that some 25 members of the group were involved in the incident led by Yakub Ali and Shukkur. Of them, Raja Mia, Moshiur Rahman Raju, Abu Hanif of Bagerhat, Rustom, Kabir Gazi, Atiqur Rahman Swapan of Chittagong. The same group looted the Dhanmondi branch of the bank and they were involved in 14 big burglary cases across country, police sources said. Sources said that two people were released on bail accept Khuru, who confessed to robbery at bank. After release on bail, Swapan Devnath took part in Joypurhat bank dacoity incident. He claimed after arrest by RAB on Thursday that he was working as an Ansar member at Chittagong Port from 1995 to 2004 on contract basis. After termination of his contract, he joined Raja-Shamim syndicate for looting bank. When asked about bail of the accused, Nizam Uddin, Inspector (Investigation) of Kotwali thana in Chittagong told this correspondent, “What should we do if an accused is released on bail in burglary case? We submitted chargesheet last year to the court.” It is learnt that miscreants looted Tk 72 lakh by killing Ayub Ali, a security guard, of Islami Bank of Kaliganj branch in Jhenidah during Eid vacation on October 19 last year. Bank manager Mahmud Hasan said that dacoits broke the lock of the bank vault using nitric acid. They used gloves in their hands so that police cannot detect their finger print. Dacoits also took the CC camera of the bank while they left the spot. Meanwhile, some Tk 1.62 crore was looted from a branch of National Bank in Natore on September 7, 2009. Police arrested 15 persons including the mayor of Bagatipara Pourashava Mosharraf Hossain on suspicion of their involvement in the incident. Later they got bail. When asked, Faridul Islam, officer-in-charge of Natore police station over phone, said “I was not there during the incident. It seems that the investigation report has been given and I am enquiring about that.” Miscreants looted a total of Tk 77lakh and 22 thousand from a branch of Islami Bank in Jhalakathi on October 1, 2012. Though police arrested six persons in connection with this incident, later the accused got the bail in burglary case. The investigation officer, sub-inspector (SI) Abdur Rahim of Jhalakathi police station said charge sheet has been filed accusing 11 persons and the case is under trial. The most sensational bank looting incident took place on January 26, last year in Kishoreganj as miscreants looted some Tk 16.40 crore from Kishoreganj branch of the state-run Sonali Bank by creating underground hole in the building. Two days after the incident, two persons named Habib and Idris were arrested by RAB at Shampur area in the capital with the looted money containing five sacks. After the arrest, Habib admitted that he alone had been creating underground hole in the building for one and half years after managing a rented house adjacent to the bank building while he was assisted by his uncle-in-law named Siraj. But RAB could not arrest Siraj in this connection. The then officer in-charge of Kishoreganj police station Abdul Malek said no matter how big the incident is but the case is a burglary one under sections 461/380 of penal code. Several sources said some Tk 90 lakh was looted from a BRAC Bank branch at South Surma of Sylhet on September 30 last year. RAB-9 arrested six persons in this incident on October 8. Later all the accused got bail. The actual cause of this incident has not been unearthed later. On the other hand, police could not unearth the incident of looting Tk 58 lakh from a branch of Pubali Bank in Kurigram on June 23 last year, though night guard Habibur Rahman was arrested on suspicion of his involvement of this incident and later got bail.
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