5 members of honey-trap gang arrested

Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested five alleged members of a honey-trap gang, including its alleged ringleader, Jeet Bhakta, during a raid in the capital’s Turag area.

The gang allegedly targeted wealthy men, particularly middle-aged and elderly businessmen, by luring them into romantic relationships and subsequently blackmailing them for money.

Of the five arrestees, three are men and two are women, Additional Deputy Commissioner of the DB Shafiqul Islam told a press conference at the DMP Media Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The arrestees are Jeet Bhakta alias Abdur Rahman, 38; Pritam Biswas alias Anik Sheikh, 30; Arthajeet Bhakta alias Siddhartha, 20; Sabrin Kabir Prema alias Neha, 22; and Sadia Yasmin alias Mahi, 21. Police identified Jeet as the alleged ringleader of the gang.

The suspects were arrested during a raid on a residential building in Turag. Police also seized five mobile phones, three blank cheques and a torture belt, Shafiqul said.

According to the DB official, the gang’s female members used fake identities on social media to establish romantic relationships with wealthy men and persuade them to visit designated apartments or hotel rooms. Once the victims arrived, the gang’s male members allegedly held them hostage, intimidated them and subjected them to physical abuse.

The gang members allegedly recorded compromising photographs and videos of the victims and threatened to release the material publicly unless they paid money. Even after receiving an initial payment, they continued to blackmail the victims and demand additional sums, he said.

Shafiqul added that the gang frequently changed its hideouts and used SIM cards registered under false identities and fake social media accounts to evade law enforcement.