'Aggyan' party active in city ahead of Eid

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The activities of `aggyan' (dope) party or `malom' (balm) party, who killed several people over the last week, increased alarmingly in the city ahead of holy Eid-ul-Fitr, reports UNB.
Popularly known as `aggyan' party, the organised gang of criminals usually make their unsuspecting targets unconscious by entertaining them with food or soft drinks mixed with strong dosage of sedatives.
In last one week, hundreds of people fell victim to the `aggyan' party. Of them, three people - a North South University (NSU) teacher, a gold trader and a CNG driver - have died and over 200 others were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Many unwary people travelling by buses, launches and trains were robbed of cash and valuables by the members of these organised gangs.
The members of `aggyan' party often board the vehicles in the guise of passengers. They sit next to their targets and then start gossiping with them. Taking advantage of the newly developed friendliness, they offer the unsuspecting passengers something to eat. After taking such food, the passengers fall unconscious.
These organised gangs cheat people not only when they are travelling, but also many people become their targets on roads, at roadside stalls, and even at crowded Iftar parties during Ramadan.
Members of these gangs use various types of balm and rub those to the eyes of their targets at an opportune moment making them unconscious.
They also covertly keep sedatives, including chloroform in handkerchiefs. When they abruptly, but intentionally, unfold such chloroform-laced handkerchief before the passenger's nose, the victim instantly loses consciousness.
Sources said that at least 20 teams of `aggyan' party are operating in the capital. The most affected areas in the city are Gabtoli bus station, Mohakhali bus station, Sayedabad bus terminal, Kamalapur railway station, Jatrabari area, and areas from Gulistan to Sadarghat launch terminal.
Rafiqul Islam, a small trader, reached Gabtoli in Dhaka from Rajshahi by coach Wednesday night (Sept. 26) with his relative Sumon.
After getting down from the bus, they took tea at a nearby stall. Immediately after taking tea, both fell unconscious. When they regained consciousness, they found themselves on hospital beds. By that time the `aggyan' party members had taken away all their belongings, including Tk 8,000 in cash.
DMCH Emergency Department and Mitford Hospital sources said they were daily receiving at least eight to ten victims of the `aggyan' party.
Solaiman Mia, DMCH medical specialist, told the news agency that after doing research they found that most of the dope party members making people unconscious by entertaining food and soft drinks mixed with Lorazepam, one kind of sleeping tablet. "They also make people senseless spraying chloroform," he said.
Robbery after poisoning by such nefarious groups of dope party has become a social problem these days. Such incidents increase during the major religious festivals when people move in large numbers. Pickpockets have also become active on the eve of Eid. Busy points at the city's bus and launch terminals, commercial hubs, bank counters and crowded shopping centres are the spots haunted by pickpockets.