Police have arrested six alleged members of a robbery gang and recovered 825 rounds of rifle ammunition, three locally made firearms and equipment allegedly used to manufacture ammunition during a special operation in Matamuhuri, a newly formed upazila in Cox’s Bazar.
The arrests were made in separate raids on Sunday night in West Chhonuapara and Halkachapara areas of Badarkhali Union. The operation resulted in the recovery of a significant quantity of ammunition and other materials, according to police.
The six detainees were identified as Rajib alias Shooter Rajib, 26, Nomi Uddin alias Nomi Dakait, 40, Jasim Uddin alias Jashu Dakait, 26, Md Sagar Rana alias Shooter Sagar, 20, Johura Begum, 45, and Shahor Banu, 55.
Chakaria Circle Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Abdul Aziz disclosed the details at a press briefing at the Chakaria police station auditorium on Monday afternoon.
Police said they launched the first operation after receiving confidential information about firearms and ammunition being kept at a house in West Chhonuapara. The location was in a difficult-to-reach area, requiring officers to walk for nearly two kilometres before reaching the house.
After surrounding the residence, police said five people attempted to flee but were arrested. Information obtained from those arrested subsequently led investigators to another location in Halkachapara, where Shahor Banu was taken into custody.
During the first operation, police recovered a locally manufactured double-barrel rifle, a single-barrel rifle and a shotgun. They also seized 58 rounds of rifle ammunition, 55 rounds of pistol ammunition, two live shotgun cartridges and two spent shells.
Other items recovered included equipment allegedly used for making firearms and ammunition, a cleaning rod and six mobile phones.
Police later conducted a search behind Shahor Banu’s residence. A plastic sack found in a pond there contained another 767 rounds of rifle ammunition, according to the law enforcement agency. The 767 rounds recovered from the pond, combined with the 58 rifle rounds seized during the earlier operation, brought the total number of rifle rounds recovered to 825.
Police allege that the arrested individuals were involved in manufacturing and trading firearms and ammunition, as well as renting weapons to robbery groups. Investigators have also obtained preliminary information suggesting that the group may have links to road and inter-district robberies in Chakaria and surrounding areas.
Police said further names have emerged during the investigation and efforts are under way to arrest those individuals. Investigators are expected to examine the recovered firearms, ammunition and manufacturing equipment as part of the ongoing inquiry into their source and intended use.
The allegations against the arrested individuals will now be examined through the legal process. Their arrests and the recovery of the weapons and ammunition form part of the investigation into the cases being prepared against them.
Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Arifur Rahman said separate cases were being prepared under the Arms Act and in connection with preparation for robbery. He added that police operations to prevent criminal activity would continue.
The recovery of such a large quantity of ammunition from a remote area has added significance to the investigation, particularly as police are examining whether the seized materials were connected to a wider network involved in weapons supply and robbery. Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
