Five Arrested Over Deadly Devil’s Breath Attacks in Naogaon

Five members of a specialised criminal syndicate have been arrested in Naogaon for deploying chemical sprays to incapacitate and rob elderly targets. Known colloquially as the “Devil’s Breath” gang, the group used a potent chemical agent to hypnotise and disorient their victims. In one tragic instance, an elderly woman died in hospital after being targeted. Following a series of coordinated raids, local police successfully apprehended the suspects and recovered a portion of the stolen gold jewellery, which had already been melted down.

The Superintendent of Naogaon Police, Mohammad Tariqul Islam, confirmed the details during a press briefing on Sunday afternoon. The arrests follow a complex investigation into two distinct criminal incidents reported within the Naogaon Sadar area on the same day.

Twin Attacks and a Fatal Outcome

The crime spree occurred on 23 June, beginning at roughly 11:30 am outside the Naogaon Mishanna Bhandar in the city’s Chwripatti area. The first victim, 70-year-old Fatema Begum, was approached by unidentified members of the syndicate. After administering a disorienting chemical spray, the suspects placed the incapacitated woman into a rickshaw. They stripped her of her gold chain, earrings, and 5,000 BDT in cash before dumping her unconscious body at a waste disposal site near the Digri Mor area.

Passersby discovered the elderly woman and rushed her to the Naogaon Sadar Hospital. As her physical condition deteriorated, she was transferred to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where she succumbed to the effects of the attack two days later, on 25 June.

Only hours after the initial assault, the gang struck again between the Naogaon-Dhaka bus terminal and Litton Bridge. An elderly couple, who were walking to their son’s residence, were approached by the suspects under the pretext of being shown an authentic gold bar. Once close enough, the criminals utilised the same chemical spray to hypnotise the couple, allowing the thieves to effortlessly steal a pair of gold earrings weighing approximately six anas before fleeing the scene.

Coordinated Raids and Gold Recovery

Following the registration of two separate criminal cases at the Naogaon Sadar Model Police Station, a specialised task force was established. Under the guidance of Superintendent Tariqul Islam, the team combined personnel from the Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime), the local model police station, and the District Detective Branch (DB).

The investigation culminated in a midnight sweep of nine residential hotels and suspected hideouts across Naogaon town on Saturday. Law enforcement personnel successfully apprehended four principal suspects: Abdul Hai, Ershad Ali, and Bablu from the Gaibandha district, alongside Mozaffar Ahmed Kalam from the Nawabganj upazila of Dinajpur.

Subsequent interrogations led detectives to the Naogaon Gold Market, where Mohammad Jahangir, the manager of Muhib Jewellers, was arrested for knowingly purchasing stolen property. Jahangir confessed to buying the stolen earrings and immediately melting them down to alter their appearance. Acting on his information, DB police recovered four anas of melted gold from the shop, with preliminary checks indicating Jahangir’s historical involvement in fencing stolen items.

Superintendent Tariqul Islam stated that law enforcement is actively tracking two to three remaining accomplices who are believed to be holding the remaining stolen assets. He urged the public to remain vigilant when approached by strangers offering unexpected financial opportunities or displaying unusual items in public spaces, emphasizing that community caution is vital in disrupting syndicates that utilise sophisticated chemical immobilisers.