Teen gang leader killed in Ctg clash over ‘establishing dominance’

An alleged leader of a teenage gang was killed in an attack reportedly by rival gang members over establishing supremacy at Patiya upazila in Chattogram district on Saturday afternoon.

The victim was identified as Raju Hossain Rasel, 27, son of Jafar Ahmed, a resident of Sushkradandi village under ward no-2 of Patiya municipality.
The killing took place near Palli Mongol Temple around 5 pm on Saturday.

Raju's sister, Ajma Akhtar Liza, accused a rival gang leader, Juwel Chowdhury alias Julu, and his accomplices, Sakib and Arman, of her brother's murder.

"In the area, focusing on dominance, teen gang leader Julu, Sakib, Arman, along with several others, have murdered my brother. I demand justice for this murder," she stated.

Patiya Police Station officer-in-charge Jasim Uddin said that Julu is wanted for multiple criminal activities including theft, robbery, extortion, and drug-related offenses.

Meanwhile, Raju himself had a troubled past with law enforcement; after attempting an escape during a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrest, he was shot and subsequently nicknamed "Guli Raju" by locals, he said.

Residents reported that Julu and his gang have instilled fear in the community through theft, extortion, and violence, causing locals to hesitate in speaking out against them.

Local municipality councillor Engineer Rupak Sen expressed his concerns, noting that he has repeatedly alerted the local administration about the rise of teenage gangs in the area.

In response to the murder, Additional Superintendent of Police (Patiya Circle) Ariful Islam assured that law enforcement had visited the scene and collected evidence.

SA