Armed men try to seize house in Adabor

A group of 15 to 20 people armed with machetes, cleavers and pistols allegedly attempted to occupy an eight-storey house in Shyamoli Housing in Dhaka’s Adabor area early Saturday.

The victims alleged that the group threatened the residents, saying, “Pay up! You live here, but won’t pay?” before vandalising the main gate.

Monir Hossain, nephew of the house’s owner, businessman Aminur Rahman, said that 15 to 20 people arrived in front of the house around 6:30am on Saturday and stayed there for some time.

Later, four of them approached the main gate. Two were carrying cleavers, another had a machete, while a fourth person stood some distance away with a pistol. Monir claimed that the person with the pistol was directing the attack.

He said the attackers initially ordered the residents to open the main gate and leave the house. When they refused, the attackers began shouting.

They also vandalised a CCTV camera and smashed windowpanes. Using pieces of brick, they broke the glass of two more windows on the second floor. Unable to enter the house, the attackers left after vandalising the property for about five minutes, Monir said.

He said police were informed through the national emergency service 999 during the attack, but arrived around 9:45am, nearly three hours later. Had police arrived on time, the attackers could have been detained, he claimed.

A complaint was later filed with Adabor Police Station, but the family does not know whether any action has been taken.

Adabor Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zahidul Islam said that there had been a long-standing dispute over ownership of the house, leading to repeated attempts to take and regain possession.

“A case has been filed over the attack,” he said, adding that police had inspected the house and were investigating the incident. No one had been arrested in connection with the attack until the filing of this report, he said.