Two Arrested at Mirpur Checkpoint With Foreign Pistol, Bullets and Knife; 12 Cases Found Against Them
Police have arrested two men with a foreign-made pistol at a checkpoint in the capital's Mirpur area. The two were detained on Saturday evening (24 October) at a checkpoint operating beneath the metro station at Mirpur 11 while they were travelling on a motorcycle. The detainees are Mashiul Azam and Shanto Islam.
Police said officers signalled the two motorcycle riders to stop after their behaviour appeared suspicious during checkpoint duty. Instead of stopping, they attempted to violate the signal and move ahead.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the Mirpur Division, Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabdar, confirmed the arrests on Saturday evening, saying, "They were travelling by bike. They were caught at the police checkpoint."
He added, "They tried to violate the signal and go forward. Police then chased them at the risk of their own lives, and Constable Khairul caught both of them together from the front." He particularly highlighted Constable Khairul's role in detaining the pair at personal risk.
After the arrest, a body search recovered a foreign pistol, one magazine, two rounds of live ammunition, a small knife and several mobile phones from Mashiul, police said.
Citing information obtained during preliminary interrogation, DC Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabdar said Mashiul extorts money at various places, and during questioning he named several people from whom he collects extortion money.
According to police records, nine cases were found against Mashiul Azam at various police stations and three cases against Shanto Islam — a total of 12 cases against the two men.
Asked about the political identity of the detainees, the police official stated a clear position. He said, "Whenever we arrest an accused, we personally do not interrogate them about their political party identity."
He added, "Which party he belongs to, which religion or belief he follows — that is not a very important matter to us. We only look at the nature of his crime, his criminal activities, what crimes he has committed and what laws he has broken."
The Mirpur checkpoint was part of regular police operations at checkpoints across the capital. The attempt to flee the checkpoint and the subsequent recovery of a firearm created a stir in the area.
Cases under the Arms Act and other relevant sections are expected to be filed against the two detainees. Police will investigate how the pistol reached their hands and whether a larger network is behind it.
Attention now turns to what further information emerges during interrogation and whether the extortion allegations lead to new arrests. Whether police will seek remand after producing the detainees before a court will be known through the next legal steps.
