Alarming rise in mugging in city

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Jubair Hasan and Shamsul Huda
Incidents of mugging have increased alarmingly in the city and its suburbs in recent days ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr despite tight security measures taken by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Such incidents, in most cases, occur in crowded places like shopping centres and branches of different commercial banks, dodging eyes of law enforcing agencies.
In some cases the muggers commit the crime after identifying themselves as members of law enforcers. They even do not bother killing their targets if they refuse to follow their instruction.
In such an incident the owner of a dyeing factory, Colour and Fashion Limited in Gazipur, Mahmudul Hasan Chowdhury Ratan was knifed on August 10 from the capital's Shahbagh area.
The killers also took away Tk 0.1 million from the deceased after stabbing him with a sharp weapon.
A shop owner, Kamrul Islam, told the FE that five mugging incidents took place in New Market area over the last six days, prompting the owners' association to intensify its own security measures to stem such offences there.
"Female pickpockets are also ruling the city streets in recent days as we received some complaints about them," he said, adding that such criminal acts triggered panic among the citizens.
The Detective Branch (DB) of police several days ago detained four females for their alleged involvement in pick pocketing.
"Activities of snatchers around the city shopping areas have increased alarmingly in recent days, which is a grave concern to the traders and shoppers," secretary of Globe Shopping Centre Shop Owners Association Jalal Ahmed told the FE Monday.
Such criminals also adopted a new strategy of hunting bearers of large amount of money when they come out of banks after withdrawing the money.
Gulshan police last week arrested three persons from in front of a branch of Exim Bank located on Road No-123 of Gulshan Avenue as they were planning to commit mugging.
A microbus, handcuff and ropes that they used in committing mugging were also recovered from their possession.
On the same day, another group of muggers who introduced themselves as members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) beside the secretariat took away Tk 60,000 in cash from a security official of Dhaka Bank.
The country's prime law enforcing agency also identified several gangs who become active targeting the festival when money transaction from banks normally goes up.
Sub-inspector of Gulshan Police Station Motlubor Rahman, who is also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, said they have identified some gangs who become active during the peak period.
"Drives are on to nab the criminals," he added.
Law enforcing agencies have become more cautious than before against the backdrop of some incidents of mugging in the last seven days in the capital city of Dhaka.
During the special drives over the last few days, DMP rounded up 30 snatchers, three women pickpockets and 10-12 muggers. They also recovered seven motorcycles and arrested five of the snatchers.
Talking to the FE, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hasan Mahmud Khandker said they have instructed all police officers concerned to take action against the gang.
He said incidents like mugging, pick pocketing and extortions normally increase ahead of such festivals as significant amounts of money are transacted during such occasions.
"A large number of criminals have already been arrested thanks to tight security measures of law enforcers," he said, adding that policemen, both in plainclothes and uniform, are patrolling key points, including shopping zones, to prevent such unexpected incidents.
He also informed that a special team of plainclothes police keep their eyes open to hunt muggers who commit the crimes around commercial banks.
Commander M Sohail, Director-Legal and Media wing of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), said the country's elite force deployed its 5,500 members at different bus terminals, market places, launch terminals and railway stations to detain such groups.
Local human rights bodies also expressed their deep concern over sudden increase of mugging in the city just several days before the biggest festival for Muslims.
A director of Odhikar said people are now afraid of coming out of home due to lawlessness. "The situation cannot be improved by just deploying additional policemen, as some unscrupulous law enforcers are also involved with such offences," he added.