RAB to adopt ‘aggressive policing’ against snatchers, criminal gangs in capital

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Wednesday announced that it would adopt an “aggressive policing” strategy to crack down on snatchers and organised criminal gangs operating in the capital.

The announcement came at a press briefing held at the RAB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar after six people, including the alleged current chief of the notorious “Kobji-Kata” Anwar Group, were arrested over an attack on police in Adabor.

Speaking at the briefing, RAB-2 Commanding Officer Additional DIG Naymul Hasan said attacks on law enforcers would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

“In line with the newly elected government’s zero-tolerance policy, tougher operations will be carried out against organised criminal networks,” he said.

Responding to a question, Naymul Hasan said that the RAB did not view the Adabor incident as an isolated snatching case, but rather as evidence of increasingly reckless behaviour by criminal gangs active in the capital.

“For this reason, we are changing our operational strategy and will follow an aggressive policing approach to swiftly suppress criminal activities,” he added.

According to the police, a group of assailants entered a bKash outlet in the Shekhertek area of Adabor on Tuesday morning and hacked the agent before snatching nearly Tk3 lakh and a phone.

The police later launched an operation and went to an area behind Delta Garments near Dhaka Udyan.

During the raid, the suspects allegedly attacked the police officers with locally made weapons, injuring Adabor Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zahidul Islam and Sub-Inspector (SI) Tarun.

The police opened fire in self-defence, leaving two suspects injured. Four people, including the two injured suspects, were arrested from the scene.

The RAB said subsequent intelligence-based operations led to the arrest of six individuals: Farid Ahmed alias Axel Babu (57), Abu Sayeed (33), Rashed Khandaker (32), Liton (28), Tausif (30) and Tarikul Islam.

According to the RAB, Axel Babu is the patron of the Kobji-Kata Anwar Group, while Abu Sayeed serves as its second-in-command.

Investigators said that the gang remained active despite the imprisonment of its founder, Anwar Hossain, in February 2025 and continued to engage in snatching, extortion, drug trafficking and other criminal activities in Mohammadpur and Adabor.

Naymul Hasan stressed the need for speedy trials of organised criminals to create fear among offenders and strengthen public confidence in law enforcement.

He also urged citizens to cooperate by sharing information about criminal activities with authorities.

The reporter can be reached at [email protected]