The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

Police in a series of drives across the city arrested six members of organized snatching groups branded as 'Tana Party' and a businessman along with his son.

A team led by Assistant Commissioner (Kotwali Zone) Babul Akhter under a special assignment conducted the daylong drive that ended Monday morning.

Police sources said that the arrested snatchers had long been engaged in stanching, especially at city's busiest spots. The snatchers used to leave the spot quickly after successful operation through motorbike and CNG-driven auto-rickshaw, which branded them as 'Tana Party.'

The arrested snatchers are Mohammad Absar (29), son of Najir Ahmed, Emon Hossain (25), son of Ali Abbas, Abdul Quader (29), son of Ali Abbas, Mohammad Nazim (23), son Abdur Sabur, Mohammad Kamal Uddin (30), son of late Kala Mia, Mohammad Jashim (28), son of Tajur Molluk, trader Haji Foyez Ahmed Chowdhury (52), son of late Haji Shaleh Ahmed and his son Mohammad Saifuddin.

The arrested businessman was identified as Haji Foyez Ahmed (52) and his son Mohammad Moinuddin (26). Police recovered two single-barrel rifles from his (businessman) possession.

Assistant Commissioner Babul Akhter who led the drive, told the reporters that they had seized a motorbike, two firearms, a chopper and four cell-phone sets from the possession of arrested snatchers.

He said that they would examine the call lists of cell-phones, which will help to identify their (snatchers) fellows.

Babul Akhter, after questioning the snatchers primarily, told the reporters that the snatchers took part in snatching dividing into three groups and they usually gave priority to dark places, bus terminals and busy spots.

He has also informed that Tana Party has expert driver (CNG-Auto and motorbike) including motor mechanics so that they can hurriedly leave the spot after snatching.

Police said that they arrested leader of Tana Party Mohammad Absar who has been wanted in dozens of snatching cases, from his Bahaddarhat area along with a single-barrel rifle and a Light Gun (LG) on Sunday morning.

Soon after arrest, he (Absar) has been placed under questioning. Following his confessional statement, the special team arrested his five fellows - Emon Hossain (25), Kader (29), Mohammad Nadim (23), Kamal Uddin (30) and Jashim Uddin (28) from different parts of the city in nightlong drive. They also recovered three guns and a Light Gun (LG) from their possession.

Based on the statement of Absar, police also arrested trader Haji Foyez Ahmed and his son Mainuddin Ahmed from city's Pahartali area at about 5:00 a.m. on Monday on charge of buying two looted firearms from Absar.

Trader Foyez Ahmed, however, claimed that he bought the firearms for his personal security. Separate cases were filed with Kotwali police station in these connections.