7 associates of David Emon arrested in Chittagong

Police have arrested seven associates of jailed criminal David Emon in Chittagong on charges of extortion and involvement in various criminal activities, officials said on Tuesday.

The arrests were made during a 24-hour operation began on Monday night, according to a statement issued by Chittagong District Police Additional Superintendent Russell Mia this morning.

The arrested individuals are Kamal Hasan alias Sagor, 25, Md Riku, 25, Md Manik, 40, Nurul Alam, 40, Ahmadullah alias Masum Member, 40 , Ahmad Reza Shail, 25, and Tariqul Islam alias Rohid, 20.

Police recovered a sword, machete, knife, dagger and four mobile phones, including phones with foreign numbers allegedly used for extortion, from their possessions.

Of the arrested individuals, Ahmad Reza Shakil is accused in eight cases involving arms, extortion, kidnapping, preparation for robbery, attempted murder and offences under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Two cases have been filed against Manik, while Sagar, Riku, Rohid and Masum Member have been facing three charges each, including extortion and offences under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

According to police, the group has been demanding money from individuals and businesspeople in the Hathazari and Bayezid Bostami areas using foreign phone numbers and the names of criminals, including Raihan and Bara Sazzad. 

Police said a doctor in the Amanbazar area of Hathazari was recently threatened and demanded Tk 10 lacs in extortion. The caller allegedly threatened to kill him if he failed to pay, claiming that even police protection would not save him.

A businessman in Baradighi area was also allegedly threatened and asked to pay extortion money through a foreign number.

Police said the suspects were identified through information technology analysis, confidential sources and information obtained during the interrogation of previously arrested criminals David Emon and Kala Mobarak.

Additional Superintendent Russell Mia said the group used the identities of notorious criminals as a tactic to intimidate people and business while concealing their own identities through foreign numbers and WhatsApp calls.

He said the arrested suspects had formed a separate extortion network, targeting businesspeople and affluent individuals after gathering information about them and subsequently threatening them in the name of different criminals to extort money.