Madaripur, Oct 01 (V7N) – Police in Madaripur have arrested 13 members of a highway robbery gang and recovered a stolen pickup truck that had been hijacked along the Dhaka-Barishal Highway. The arrests were confirmed during a press briefing on Wednesday by Salah Uddin Kader, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Shibchar Circle).

The recovered pickup belonged to Jahangir Alam Sardar, a 62-year-old fruit trader from Rupsa in Khulna, who transports produce across districts. On the night of September 23, his pickup carrying watermelons from Khulna’s Terokhada to the fruit market in Madaripur’s Mostafapur was intercepted near Amgram Bridge in Rajoir. The robbers attacked the driver and helper before fleeing with the loaded vehicle.

Police registered a robbery case that same night. On September 24, two suspects were arrested, and based on their confessions, raids were conducted in Faridpur, Keraniganj, Kishoreganj, Nagarkanda, and Gazipur, leading to further arrests. In subsequent operations, a total of 13 suspects were captured. The stolen pickup was later recovered from Joydebpur in Gazipur.

The arrested men were identified as Shah Alam Sheikh (40), Kabir Chokdar (45), Jakir Khan (50), Ikram Ali Munshi (35), Hridoy Boyati (23), Sumon Hossain Matubbar (26), Al Amin (45), Habib (25), Iqbal Hossain (36), Sujon Matubbar (27), Sohel alias Nobel (26), Dalim Sarkar (30), and Swapan (25).

Police reported that after stealing the watermelon-laden pickup, the gang sold the fruit in Dhaka’s Jatrabari before hiding the vehicle in Gazipur. Authorities confirmed the gang specialized in targeting vehicles on highways, often attacking drivers and making off with goods.

Pickup owner Jahangir Alam expressed gratitude to Rajoir police for recovering his vehicle and arresting the culprits. “I thank the police for their tireless efforts and demand exemplary punishment for those involved,” he said.

ASP Salah Uddin Kader stated that the crackdown against highway robbery networks would continue, with law enforcement maintaining surveillance on known hotspots along the Dhaka-Barishal route.

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