272 fugitives 'control' Khulna underworld

Most of these fugitives are involved in heinous crimes including murder and extortion being linked with underground parties and blessed by a section of influential politicians and policemen.

According to reliable sources, most of these fugitives were either directly involved in murders of political leaders, policemen and journalists or played vital role from behind the scene.

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Network of these fugitives is stronger than that of intelligence agencies to escape action and arrest by law enforcers.

These fugitives include extremists, abductors, smugglers, dacoits, extortionists and rapists, sources said. Search for them by law enforcers is an eyewash as many of them are found at times moving at large under political cover.

Cellphones are enough to contract beneficiaries of underworld in police department and political parties to get rid of ongoing combing operations by Rab, said a ward commissioner who is one of the most wanted criminals in the south-western zone. Money matters much, he said while telling how he moves at large in the city bribing some policemen and two leaders of ruling party.

When asked, a senior office of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) refused to admit that fugitives are moving at large and committing crimes. We are monitoring activities of the officers of all the five police stations of the city giving them no scope to favour any criminal, he said.