Four ‘robbers’ impersonated police detectives in Gopalganj. They were caught trying to abduct gold traders

Based on information obtained from the arrestees, police recover RAB uniforms, handcuffs, and a toy pistol

Locals have caught four suspected robbers red-handed and handed them over to police after they impersonated police detectives and attempted to abduct two gold traders using a microbus in Kotalipara Upazila of Gopalganj.

Kotalipara Police chief Riyad Mahmud said they were held on Thursday night in Mushria village of Ramshil Union. A case has also been filed over the incident.

On Friday, based on information obtained from the arrestees, police raided a nearby sluice gate and recovered Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) uniforms, handcuffs, and a toy pistol.

Three of the arrestees -- Rabiul Dhali, Ilias and Parvez – hail from Barishal while the other, identified only as Zahir, is a resident of Barguna.

They are aged 25 and 38 years of age.

Krishna Karmakar and Shiv Shankar Karmakar, the jewellers from Paisarahat in Barishal’s Agailjhara Upazila, were returning to their homes in Kotalipara Upazila after closing their shops on Thursday night, police said.

When they reached Sikir Bazar, the four men posing as members of the Detective Branch (DB) forced them into the microbus.

Locals instantly noticed the incident and started contacting concerned authorities, including police.

Meanwhile, as the “robbers” were en route to Agailjhara along the Gopalganj-Paisarahat road, Krishna’s family called local traders, who intercepted the microbus.

However, the suspected robbers managed to escape and turned towards Ramshil Union.

Locals and traders eventually tracked them down again before reporting them to police.

The police officer said the process to produce them before a court is under way.