In a significant breakthrough, the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) have apprehended six individuals, including a former Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), in connection with a high-profile gold robbery case. The recovery operation, conducted jointly by the CMP’s Detective Branch (North) and Pahartali Police Station, also yielded 290 vori of gold bars and a motorcycle allegedly used in the crime.
According to police reports, the robbery occurred in the early hours of 4 January. Green Devnath, accompanied by two associates, was travelling in a CNG auto-rickshaw in the Bayezid Bostami area when they reached the Atura Depot vicinity. At that point, four armed assailants on two motorcycles intercepted them, assaulted the group, and forcibly seized 35 gold bars, three mobile phones, and a sum of cash.
A formal case was registered on 5 January at Pahartali Model Police Station. Subsequent investigations by the CMP’s Detective Branch (North) and Pahartali police led to a coordinated operation targeting the suspects. On Thursday afternoon, three primary suspects were apprehended in Madhabpur, under Kashimpur Police Station in Gazipur. The recovered motorcycle has been identified as a Suzuki Gixxer.
The arrested individuals are as follows:
| Name | Age | Notable Details / Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Suman Chandra Das | 42 | Former ASI, previously arrested in gold robbery cases |
| Md. Masud Rana (Bike Babu) | 30 | Suspect in the current case |
| Rafiqul Islam (Imon) | 22 | Suspect in the current case |
| Robi Kumar Das | 40 | Arrested as per information provided by primary suspect |
| Panna Rani Das (Deepali) | 38 | Wife of Suman Chandra Das, arrested |
| Vivek Banik | 42 | Gold informant, arrested |
During preliminary interrogations, Suman Chandra Das admitted to orchestrating the robbery. Based on his information, Robi Kumar Das and his wife Panna Rani Das were subsequently detained from Mohakhali in Dhaka and Halishahar in Chittagong. Vivek Banik was arrested from the Kotwali police jurisdiction.
CMP Detective Branch (North) officer Habibur Rahman Pramanik stated that, following the confessions, 29 gold bars weighing a total of 290 vori were recovered from a residence in Ray’s Bazar, Mohakhali, Dhaka on Friday morning. Police continue to pursue the remaining suspects involved in the crime.
This swift and coordinated operation highlights the CMP’s capability to respond effectively to major gold heists. Authorities have pledged stringent measures to prevent similar crimes in the future, signalling a firm stance against organised theft in the region.