Snatching, carjacking galore in city

The incidence of carjacking and snatching of money and valuables took an alarming upturn in the city and its outskirts in recent times, creating a sense of insecurity among city-dwellers, especially commuters and businesspeople.

At least three traders fell victim to gun attacks during the past six days to Wednesday. The victims were forced to deliver over Tk 2.4 million in such smash-and-grab attacks.

The three bullet-hit businessmen ? Jamal, Abul Hosain and Ferdous ? have been under treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), said sources there.

More 50 incidents of snatching that took place in different parts of the capital during the period, according to informal allegations made by citizens.

An armed gang of criminals looted Tk 4 lakh from a store room of a Pepsi Cola agent in the city?s Khilgaon area on Thursday afternoon.

However, in most of the cases, the victims did not go to the police to lodge complaints, considering the filing of general diary as a sort of harassment.

Some of them said duty police officers often discouraged the victims from filing their complaints.

Armed bandits shot a grocery-shop owner and took away Tk 420,000 from his possession in the capital?s Mirhajirbagh area on Wednesday. The bullet-wounded Jamal was admitted to DMCH.

On Monday, armed men shot at an employee of a private company and took away one-million taka from him in Jatrabari area in broad daylight.

Another trader was also shot in Mirpur area few days back and the attackers snatched away another sum of a king?s ransom?some Tk 900,000.

Criminals, disguised as passengers, often hijacked vehicles.

The armed hoodlums also hijacked car, gold ornaments and other valuables from the passengers at gunpoint.

According to police record, some 200 vehicles, mostly private cars and motorbikes, were stolen or hijacked by members of organised gangs from different parts of the city in last three months.

However, law enforcers recovered so far 50 vehicles.

Striking team managed to detain at least 30 suspected car thieves or hijackers, including some ringleaders, a detective police officer said.

Of the hijacked or stolen motor vehicles, at least 30 belonged to journalists working for print and electronic media. But not a single motorbike has been recovered.

The DB official said some 20-25 car-hijacking or stealing syndicates are now active in the capital.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) working in DMP media cell Masudur Rahman said law enforcers launched massive drives to catch the criminals and recover the stolen motor vehicles.

Source: daily-sun.com

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