A suspected top-listed criminal has been arrested in Khulna along with a cache of firearms and ammunition following a coordinated operation conducted by law enforcement agencies. The joint team, comprising officers from the Daulatpur Police Station and the Detective Branch of Khulna Metropolitan Police, carried out the arrest during a late-night raid on Saturday.
The arrested individual has been identified as 23-year-old Imon Howladar, also known by his alias “Gojal Imon,” son of Alamgir Hossain and a resident of the Maheshwarpasha Buchitala area under Daulatpur police jurisdiction. Authorities confirmed that he has long been on the police list of active and high-risk criminals operating in the region.
According to police sources, the operation was launched based on confidential intelligence. Officers first detained him from the Rayermohol area of the city. During initial interrogation, he reportedly provided information that led investigators to a secondary raid in the Kartikkul North Ghoshpara area of Maheshwarpasha. From that location, law enforcement recovered additional firearms and ammunition believed to be linked to organised criminal activity.
Officials stated that the recovered weapons included two single-shot guns and one pistol, along with a magazine, one round of pistol ammunition, and four cartridges for single-shot firearms. Preliminary assessments suggest that these weapons were potentially used in acts of intimidation, extortion, and territorial control by local criminal networks.
Police further revealed that multiple serious criminal cases are already pending against the accused. These include allegations related to murder, illegal arms possession, robbery, and theft. In total, at least seven separate cases are currently registered against him in various police stations.
Authorities believe the arrest is a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to curb organised crime in the Daulatpur area and surrounding neighbourhoods of Khulna city. Law enforcement officials also suspect that the accused may have been part of a wider arms supply and distribution network, which is now under active investigation.
The arrested suspect is expected to be produced before a court after preliminary interrogation. Investigators are continuing to examine his connections, possible accomplices, and the broader structure of the criminal syndicate he is allegedly associated with.
Police have emphasised that the operation reflects their continued commitment to restoring stability and improving public safety in crime-affected zones of Khulna.
Operation and Seizure Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of accused | Imon Howladar alias “Gojal Imon” |
| Age | 23 years |
| Residence | Maheshwarpasha Buchitala, Daulatpur, Khulna |
| Father’s name | Alamgir Hossain |
| Arresting units | Daulatpur Police Station & DB, Khulna Metropolitan Police |
| Place of arrest | Rayermohol area, Khulna city |
| Firearms recovered | 2 single-shot guns, 1 pistol |
| Ammunition recovered | 1 magazine, 1 round pistol bullet, 4 cartridges |
| Existing cases | At least 7 (including murder, arms, robbery, theft) |