�Mugging rampant in Tejgaon�

Victims allege police apathy

Residents of Tejgaon allege that the area has become a safe haven for muggers with no strong action from the law enforcers. Local police, however, have denied the allegation and claimed that mugging has almost come down to a naught. Nurul Afsar, joint convener of Tejgaon Sports Club, told The Independent on Thursday evening that muggings are reported in Tejgaon almost every day. “Muggers come on motorbikes and attack people,” he alleged. He claimed that Ripon Saha, a former employee of a local pharmaceutical company, and Sumon are the leaders of the muggers’ group. “Ripon is an unemployed person and his mother is a cleaner, but he passes days in luxury,” Afsar alleged.
Mizanur Rahaman, a local resident who runs a rickshaw garage, said two youths on a black motorbike recently attacked a pedestrian on Love Road, and snatched his laptop and mobile phone. “Many rickshaw-pullers told me that they have often seen such muggings in the area,” he added. Mizanur Rahman Khan, a senior photojournalist of The Independent, was mugged in the area on Wednesday evening. “I was on my way to Farmgate on a rickshaw at about 7pm. Near the Tejgaon Truck Stand area, some muggers beat me up and snatched my camera and phone,” he said.
He alleged that Tejgaon industrial area police advised him to file a general diary over the incident. “I and several other photojournalists went to file a complaint and the officers at the police station advised us to file a general diary instead of filing a case over the mugging.”
Officer in-charge of Tejgaon industrial area police station Mizanur Rahman, however, denied the allegation that incidents of mugging were on the rise. He claimed that only one such incident took place in the area in September. When asked about incidents in this month, he first claimed that no muggings took place in November. When he was told about the mugging of The Independent photojournalist, Rahman backtracked and admitted there had been “one such incident”.
On May 27, Kalyan Kanti Das, an Indian High Commission official was mugged near the BEXIMCO media complex. He was robbed of his mobile phone and documents as he was travelling on a rickshaw with a colleage . Police are yet to make any arrest over the incident or recover the stolen items.
OC Mizanur claimed that Kalyan Kanti Das had refused to file a case and informed the  police that he had not been mugged.
When contacted, Muntasirul Islam Rony, DC (media and publication) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said if any mugging takes place, the police are bound to record a snatching case and if a police station refuses to do so, the victim should contact senior officials.
“If policemen are found guilty, we shall take stern action against them,” he said.

 

�Mugging rampant in Tejgaon�

Victims allege police apathy

Residents of Tejgaon allege that the area has become a safe haven for muggers with no strong action from the law enforcers. Local police, however, have denied the allegation and claimed that mugging has almost come down to a naught. Nurul Afsar, joint convener of Tejgaon Sports Club, told The Independent on Thursday evening that muggings are reported in Tejgaon almost every day. Muggers come on motorbikes and attack people, he alleged. He claimed that Ripon Saha, a former employee of a local pharmaceutical company, and Sumon are the leaders of the muggers group. Ripon is an unemployed person and his mother is a cleaner, but he passes days in luxury, Afsar alleged. Mizanur Rahaman, a local resident who runs a rickshaw garage, said two youths on a black motorbike recently attacked a pedestrian on Love Road, and snatched his laptop and mobile phone. Many rickshaw-pullers told me that they have often seen such muggings in the area, he added. Mizanur Rahman Khan, a senior photojournalist of The Independent, was mugged in the area on Wednesday evening. I was on my way to Farmgate on a rickshaw at about 7pm. Near the Tejgaon Truck Stand area, some muggers beat me up and snatched my camera and phone, he said. He alleged that Tejgaon industrial area police advised him to file a general diary over the incident. I and several other photojournalists went to file a complaint and the officers at the police station advised us to file a general diary instead of filing a case over the mugging. Officer in-charge of Tejgaon industrial area police station Mizanur Rahman, however, denied the allegation that incidents of mugging were on the rise. He claimed that only one such incident took place in the area in September. When asked about incidents in this month, he first claimed that no muggings took place in November. When he was told about the mugging of The Independent photojournalist, Rahman backtracked and admitted there had been one such incident. On May 27, Kalyan Kanti Das, an Indian High Commission official was mugged near the BEXIMCO media complex. He was robbed of his mobile phone and documents as he was travelling on a rickshaw with a colleage . Police are yet to make any arrest over the incident or recover the stolen items. OC Mizanur claimed that Kalyan Kanti Das had refused to file a case and informed the police that he had not been mugged. When contacted, Muntasirul Islam Rony, DC (media and publication) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said if any mugging takes place, the police are bound to record a snatching case and if a police station refuses to do so, the victim should contact senior officials. If policemen are found guilty, we shall take stern action against them, he said.