21 Detained in Patharghata Drive Against Drugs and Teen Gangs, Nine Motorcycles Seized
Police have detained 21 suspects in a special drive against drugs and teenage gangs in Patharghata municipality in Barguna. During the operation, nine motorcycles were seized after their riders failed to produce the required documents on the spot.
The four-hour operation was carried out from 6:30pm to 10:30pm on Thursday, October 22, in different areas of Patharghata municipality. It was led by Shahed Ahmed Chowdhury, additional superintendent of police for the Patharghata circle.
According to the incident report of Patharghata Police Station, those detained are aged between 14 and 28. Six of them are juveniles aged between 14 and 16, the report said.
The detainees are residents of different wards of Patharghata municipality and of Badurtala, Chhoto Patharghata, Dakshin Patharghata, Kalibari, Padma, Ruhita, Chhoto Tengra, Dakshin Kupdhan, Kanchurhat and Purba Kalmegha. The spread of the areas shows the drive covered the whole municipality.
Police said the identities of the detainees and related matters are being verified. What action will be taken against each person will be decided only after that verification is complete.
The documents of the seized motorcycles are also being examined and necessary legal steps are being taken, police said. Failure to produce papers was cited as the reason for the seizures.
Patharghata Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Alim said teenage gang activity has recently been noticed in Patharghata. It was against that backdrop that the special drive was conducted, he said.
The OC said police have taken a tough position against drugs, teenage gangs and criminal activity. Those involved with teenage gangs will not be spared in any way, he made clear.
OC Abdul Alim also said the special drives will continue in order to identify offenders and bring them under the law. Police indicated that the effort would not end with a single night's operation.
The OC said police will remain in the toughest position to keep the law-and-order situation in Patharghata normal and to ensure the safety of ordinary people. The safety of local residents was presented as the main aim of the drive.
That six of the 21 detainees are juveniles has sparked discussion in the area. Alongside the police role, questions are being raised about the role of families and society in stopping juveniles from becoming involved in crime.
The next legal steps concerning the detainees will be known after verification is complete. Police say that with the drives continuing, surveillance against drugs and teenage gang activity in Patharghata will increase further.
