Launch passengers robbed in Habiganj

10 October 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Sylhet

Armed criminals looted three rifles from on-duty Ansars in a launch and cash and other valuables from its passengers on Ajmiriganj-Bhairab river route under Habiganj district early yesterday. A passenger launch named Arafat Paribahan with about 200 people on board left Ajmiriganj upazial headquarters in Habigan j for Bhairab Bazar at around 12:30am. At around 3:00am, a gang of 12, who were in the launch in the guise of passengers, swooped on the on-duty Ansars and snatched three guns from them. They then stabbed a cloth trader from Kakailcheo of Ajmiriganj and looted Tk 1.50 lakh and a mobile phone from him. The gang also stabbed another passenger named Atel Miah of Umedpur village in the same upazila and snatched Tk 50,000 from him. Both are undergoing treatment at Mitamain Upazila Health complex, police said. The miscreants took away money, mobile phones and other valuables worth about Tk10 lakh from other passengers. Officer-in-charge (OC) of Ajmiriganj Police Station said the law enforcers recovered the looted guns from the riverbank yesterday afternoon. A case has been filed with Ajmiriganj Police Station. Police seized the launch and picked up its driver Abul Kalam and helper Kuddus for quizzing.