Anti-teen gang drive held again across Cumilla, 254 detained

photo: collected

Police have once again conducted a simultaneous anti-teen gang operation across all 18 police stations in Cumilla.

The operation began at 8pm on Saturday and continued until late into the night, resulting in the detention of 254 people.

Md Lutfur Rahman, additional superintendent of Cumilla confirmed the information on Sunday morning.

Police said four active members of the controversial “Ratan Group” or “R Squad” in Cumilla city were among those detained. One of them is Anisur Rahman alias Anik, 19, who is the gang’s “second-in-command.”

Additional superintendent of police Md Lutfor Rahman said the operation was conducted simultaneously across all 18 police stations as part of regular anti-teen gang drives. Locations in Cumilla city and other areas where unruly youths and teen gangs are active were identified before the operation.

A total of 254 people were detained during the drive. After verification and screening, necessary legal action is being taken against those detained, he said.

Touhidul Anwar, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Model Police Station said 37 people were detained during the anti-teen gang operation at night.

The operation was conducted in areas of the city where teen gangs frequently gather and allegedly attempt to engage in criminal activities, he said.

Police claimed that four of those detained are directly involved with teen gangs. One of them is Anisur Rahman alias Anik, 19, son of Abul Kashem of Chhotora Mofizabad Colony in the city.

Anik is the nephew of Imran Hossain alias Ratan, the leader of the Ratan Group. As Ratan is currently in hiding, Anik is allegedly controlling the group’s activities and serves as its second-in-command. The other three are also reportedly active members of the group.Earlier, a simultaneous anti-teen gang operation was conducted across all 18 police stations in Cumilla from Wednesday evening (September 23) until late at night. During that operation, police detained 624 people.

Of them, 451 were released into the custody of their guardians after signing bonds. The remaining 173 were sent to Cumilla Central Jail through the court over various allegations, including drug use, regular criminal cases, mobile court proceedings, involvement with a banned organisation and outstanding arrest warrants.