Mugging, extortion on rise in Rajshahi city ahead of Eid

Police are indifferent to such incidents, many city dwellers alleged. Allegations have it that a section of policemen are also involved in toll collection.

Police officials admitted that mugging at night increased in some city areas, but they refuted the allegation of police helping the miscreants or collecting toll.

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Ninety-four residents of Kalabagan area submitted a petition to the officer-in-charge of the Boalia thana on Wednesday requesting him to check incidents of mugging, especially on the Shahid Abdul Halim Road, stretching from Rajshahi Medical College auditorium to Mahanagar Clinic.

Policemen are seldom seen in the area. The road remains dark, as most streetlights are out of order for long. Muggers in the area often use firearm.

Just after sehri on Thursday, muggers took away cell phones and Tk 2,000 from two persons.

Police were informed of the incident and the alleged muggers -- Nazrul and Munnah-- were named, but the two are moving freely now.

The portion of the Greater Road from Gourahanga Crossing to TB Hospital Crossing, Bhadra-Talaimari Road, Kalpana-Sericulture Bypass Road, Bhadra-Bus Terminal Road and areas around Rajshahi University are mugging spots for the last two weeks.

When contacted, officers-in charge of different police said they could not take any step as most of the victims of mugging did not report to police.

The Rajshahi Metropolitan Police beefed up security especially for Ramadan. The four police station areas of the city have been divided into 50 units and one contingent of police has been deployed in each unit.

Plainclothes police have also been deployed in shopping areas in addition to police in uniform.

A police camp has been set up at the RDA Market, Saheb Bazaar. Some mobile patrol teams are on patrol at important city places.

Despite all these, mugging continues.

Many residents alleged that police are more interested in collecting toll from businessmen, road occupiers, smugglers and truckers, and sometimes from criminals.

Many businessmen alleged that extortion was almost nil even three weeks ago. It has become rampant as Eid is approaching.

"Some of the extortionist groups have links with police ", said a top leader of Rajshahi Businessmen's Alliance Council.

A group of local photo-journalists during a visit to Shaheb Bazar on Wednesday night found four policemen in civil dress (known as 'cashiers' of four police stations in the city) were frequenting shops one after another and collecting toll.

Traders at the market said police took a 'fixed amount of toll' daily for what they called maintaining security in the market.

Asked why they did not complain to higher police officials, they said it will yield no result.

Aslam Iqbal, OC of Boalia police station, denied the allegation and said he did not get any such complaint.

Tolls are collected from Shaheb Bazar, RD Market, New Market, Gausia Market, Karim Super Market, Hawkers Market, Uposhahar New Market and shops at Sona Dighee crossing.

Shop owners there alleged that toll collectors, backed by political parties take away about 40 percent of their profit.