3 'robbers' shown arrested in case over Keraniganj bank heist attempt
A bank official from the branch filed the case with South Keraniganj Police Station against three suspects — Md Leon Molla Nirab, 22, Md Arafat, 16, and Md Sifat, 16 — yesterday night
Three individuals suspected to be robbers who surrendered during an attempted heist at the Jinjira branch of Rupali Bank in Keraniganj have been shown arrested in a case filed over the incident.
"A bank official from the branch filed the case with South Keraniganj Police Station against three suspects — Md Leon Molla Nirab, 22, Md Arafat, 16, and Md Sifat, 16 — yesterday night," Jahangir Alam, additional superintendent of police (Keraniganj circle), said today (20 December).
"The accused have been charged with robbery and will be presented in court today, where a seven-day remand will be requested for Leon Mollas interrogation," he added.
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On Thursday at around 2pm, the suspected robbers barged into the bank and locked the bank's collapsible gates, taking the staff and customers hostage. As news of the impending robbery spread, law enforcers arrived at the scene.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspects initially sent a note to law enforcers with several mobile numbers written on it, and after negotiations began, they threw a "gun" out the window, then packed the remaining "weapons" in a bag and tossed them outside.
Later, one by one, the suspects exited the building and were taken into custody by law enforcement officers, who escorted them into a vehicle.
At around 6pm, security personnel entered the bank, and army-led joint forces conducted questioning of the bank staff and customers.
During primary interrogation, members of the law enforcement agencies learned that the "arms" the trio carried were actually toys, an official wishing anonymity told The Business Standard.
Keraniganj Model police station Officer-in-Charge Sohrab Al Hasan said four toy pistols and two knives were recovered.
Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Ahmad Muyeed during a media briefing said, "It appears the robbers attempted the heist as an adventurous act inspired by a movie. However, they claimed their motive was to rob the bank to save a kidney patient on his deathbed."
He said the police were verifying the address of the patient provided by the robbers to confirm their claim's authenticity.
