PBI arrests two blackmailers in Rangpur

Rangpur unit of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) arrested two members of an organised gang of blackmailers making the best use of modern science and technologies. Police said a special PBI operational team led by Superintendent of Police (SP) of Rangpur PBI ABM Jakir Hossain arrested the two men involved in extorting people through blackmailing for a long time from the city on Sunday night.

The arrested persons are Mostafizur Rahman Chonchol, 32, of Sarderpara Kellabond area and Muksenul Arefin Rubel, 49, of Radhaballav area in the city.

Talking to BSS, SP Jakir said one Arif Hossain, involved in business activities at Burimari land Port (BLP) in Lalmonirhat, came to Rangpur city with imported stones loaded in two trucks to sell those as per direction of Chonchol on April 24 last at 9 pm.

After reaching a deal, Chonchol purchased the stones loaded in two trucks paying Taka 1.40 lakh to Arif.

Later, Chonchol convinced Arif to live in a rented house in Rangpur city for making good business, handed over a rented house to Arif at Kellabond Sarderpara area in the city and shifted him (Arif) there on the same night.

“At 10:30 pm, Chonchol came to the house with a lady and soon 3 to 4 members of the gang entered the house and forcibly made video and took photographs of Arif with the lady at gunpoint,’ SP Jakir said.

The blackmailers forcefully snatched Taka two lakh from Arif and took his signature on non-judicial stamp paper ‘making the businessman bound’ to deliver more stones loaded in six trucks or pay Taka seven lakh to them to get rid of the situation.

Later, Arif filed a case with Kotwali police station of Rangpur Metropolitan Police against the blackmailers for demanding tolls and cheating him and under the Pornography Control Act on May 30 last.

Rangpur PBI spontaneously took the responsibility of conducting investigation into the case on the same day.

“As per direction of Deputy Inspector General of PBI Banaj Kumar Majumder, we conducted raids and arrested the two members of the organised gang on May 30 at night from the city,” SP Jakir said.

During investigation PBI found that the blackmailers also forced the lady to make videos and take photographs with the businessman.

“The lady gave a spontaneous statement before a Rangpur court under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1898 as whiteness,” SP Jakir mentioned.

During primary interrogation, the arrested men admitted that they had been involved in cheating and extorting businessmen by making tarps in the city for long.

“Investigation into the case continues,” SP Jakir said, adding that hectic efforts are on to nab other members of the organised gang of extortionists and blackmailers.