Four held over kidnapping bank official in Ctg

Police early yesterday claimed to have arrested four members of an abduction gang for kidnapping a bank official and extorting Tk 2 lakh in port city's Rahattar Pul area.  

Police said they also seized a makeshift gun and two knives from gang leader Shahid Alam Ledu (30), Jahangir Alam (30), Raihan (28) and Gias Uddin (29).

Ruhul Amin Sabuj, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bakalia Police Station, said the kidnapping took place on March 5, after victim Shamim Hasan, senior officer at Shahjalal Islami Bank's Halishahar branch, went to visit someone.

A client of Shamim gave him a woman's phone number in February, and after getting acquainted with her over phone, the banker went to Rahattar Pul in the evening of March 5, upon her request, he said.

At Rahattar Pul, she asked Shamim to take arrestee Raihan's assistance to find her address. Later, six gang members joined Raihan, held Shamim hostage and demanded Tk 2 lakh, the OC said.

OC Ruhul said the gang members threatened the banker with sharp weapons. At one point, Shamim phoned his younger brother and asked him to send money through a mobile financial service.

"The kidnappers took the money in several phases and later freed Shamim," he said.

Shamim later lodged a case with Bakalia Police Station. Police then started investigation and identified the criminals through CCTV footage.

"Police are trying to arrest the other gang members in this connection," he added.