Law enforcement authorities in Jamalpur have dismantled a suspected criminal syndicate linked to a series of brazen power infrastructure thefts, arresting five individuals, including a local political activist. The crackdown follows a surge in criminal activity that severely disrupted local electricity supplies and agricultural irrigation across the region, leaving rural communities in deep distress.
The breakthrough came late Monday night when police units from the Madarganj Model Police Station conducted targeted raids across several areas within the upazila. Officers successfully apprehended the suspects and seized various heavy-duty tools and equipment allegedly used to dismantle and steal electrical transformers. Following initial police procedures, the five accused were produced before the court on Tuesday afternoon and subsequently remanded to prison custody.
According to local law enforcement and community reports, the arrested suspects have been identified as Abinur, Selim, Sumon, and another individual known as Sumon alias Nuru Miah, all hailing from the Nadagari area under Balijuri Union. The fifth suspect, Russel Miah, is a resident of Gabergram and serves as the general secretary of Ward 3 of the municipal unit of Swechchhasebak Dal.
The arrests follow a disturbing spike in utility thefts across Madarganj over the past two months. Local residents and officials confirmed that more than 26 electrical transformers were systematically targeted and stolen from various unions during this timeframe. The disappearance of these crucial distribution units plunged local neighbourhoods into prolonged blackouts and crippled agricultural irrigation pumps, prompting the Madarganj Rural Electricity Zone office to lodge formal complaints with the local police station. Acting on these grievances, detectives launched an intelligence-led shadow investigation that eventually mapped out the syndicate’s operations.
Addressing the involvement of a party activist, Madarganj Municipal Swechchhasebak Dal Convenor Abdullah Al Mamun stated unequivocally that the organisation would not shoulder the burden of any individual’s criminal misconduct. He affirmed that if formal investigations substantiate the allegations, strict organisational disciplinary action would be implemented without delay.
Meanwhile, Madarganj Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Snehashish Roy detailed the ongoing legal proceedings, noting that preliminary interrogations yielded several items used in the thefts. To uncover the wider network and trace where the stolen transformer components were fenced, police have petitioned the court for a seven-day remand for the suspects. Authorities have vowed to bring all individuals linked to the racketeering ring to justice.
