Police have arrested alleged top Motijheel criminal Tanim Reza alias Bappi and four of his associates in connection with an extortion and shooting case, recovering three foreign-made firearms, seven rounds of ammunition and other weapons during subsequent raids.
The arrests were disclosed at a press briefing held at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road in the capital by Additional Police Commissioner (Estate Development and ICT) Mohammad Osman Gani.
Police said the accused were arrested following an intensive investigation into extortion and a shooting incident targeting the office of a cattle market leaseholder in South Kamalapur. The accused had demanded Tk 10 lakh in extortion through WhatsApp using a foreign phone number on May 15 and threatened to kill a businessman. Four days later, on May 19, armed assailants opened fire at his office.
Investigation identified Tanim Reza Bappi and his associates as being involved in the incident. Police conducted a raid near Hotel Purbani in Motijheel at around 7:00 am on Friday, arresting Bappi, 46, along with Mohammad Jewel, 48, Shakil, 27, and Md. Manik Kazi, 50. Another associate, Rakibul Islam Bhuiyan alias Rizon, 35, was arrested from North Kamalapur later the same day.
Acting on information provided by the detainees, police raided Bappi's office in South Kamalapur late Friday night and recovered a foreign-made revolver, two foreign-made pistols, seven rounds of ammunition, two magazines, an electric shock gun and a Chinese-made axe. A separate case under the Arms Act has been filed with Motijheel Police Station over the seizure.
According to police records, Bappi has seven cases filed against him with different DMP police stations on charges including extortion, robbery, abduction, attempted murder, violence against women and children, and narcotics offences. Police said drives are continuing to arrest other members of the criminal group and recover additional illegal firearms.
