Police have identified dismissed former army personnel Sumon Munshi as the alleged mastermind behind the abduction of a businessman by a gang posing as members of the Special Response Battalion (SRB) in Chattogram's Banshkhali, and arrested six people in connection with the incident.
The victim, Mohammad Ehsan, also known as Hasan, was rescued on 21 October from an area near Rohingya Camp-25 in Leda area of Cox's Bazar's Teknaf, four days after his abduction.
Chattogram Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Masud Alam disclosed the details at a press conference at his office around 11:30am today (22 October). Hasan was also present and described the torture he allegedly endured in captivity.
The SP said four people entered Hasan's hardware shop, Messrs Abdullah Enterprise, at Prembazar in Puichhari union of Banshkhali around 8:30pm on 17 October. Wearing black vests marked "SRB", caps and face masks, they introduced themselves as SRB members and told Hasan he had a case against him and needed to accompany them.
They handcuffed him and took him away in a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw, the police official said.
After the abduction, the kidnappers called Hasan's wife and the shop manager from various Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) numbers, demanding Tk20 lakh in ransom and threatening to kill him if the money was not paid.
The kidnappers moved Hasan between different vehicles while taking him towards Cox's Bazar, the SP said.
Police initially struggled to identify the suspects because they used VoIP numbers. Investigators later identified them by analysing CCTV footage, gathering local information and conducting intelligence operations. Six suspects were arrested in raids across different areas of Cox's Bazar on 20 October.
The arrested suspects are Sumon Munshi of Kashiani in Gopalganj; Mizanur Rahman of Kutubdia in Cox's Bazar; Zainal Uddin alias Junu of Ukhiya; Mohammad Abbas Uddin of Banshkhali in Chattogram; Solim alias Selim, a resident of Rohingya Camp-26 in Teknaf; and Delwar Hossain of Cox's Bazar Sadar.
Acting on information provided by the suspects, police raided an area near Rohingya Camp-25 in Leda around 4am on 21 October and rescued Hasan. His eyes and hands were bound when he was found, the SP said.
Preliminary investigations indicate that he was held at different locations and tortured after being abducted.
'Blindfolded and beaten, given food only once in five days'
At the press conference, Hasan said, "They pressed a weapon against my stomach and threatened to kill me if I spoke. They beat and tortured me severely. My eyes and hands were bound, and my legs were chained."
Hasan said the kidnappers allowed him to contact his family to pressure them into paying the ransom. He initially tried to call his wife and later contacted the shop manager, asking him to go to his house and collect money from his family.
He said the kidnappers moved him to another location in a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw two days later. His eyes remained blindfolded throughout the journey.
He was not given food regularly and claimed he received food only once during the five days he was held captive.
Police say former army personnel built kidnapping gang
SP Masud Alam said Sumon Munshi had previously worked for the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and was dismissed in 2021 over alleged involvement in various crimes, according to preliminary investigation findings.
He later became acquainted with people involved in criminal activities while in prison and formed a gang, the SP said. Preliminary interrogation suggests the group abducted people and demanded ransom by impersonating law enforcement personnel.
According to police, Abbas Uddin and Delwar Hossain monitored potential victims and supplied information about them. Selim, a resident of Rohingya Camp-26, allegedly helped coordinate activities and maintain contacts inside the camp.
Police said Sumon Munshi has 13 cases against him involving allegations of snatching, robbery and arms-related offences. Zainal Uddin has three cases involving kidnapping, theft and snatching, while Selim faces two cases under the Arms Act. Abbas Uddin has one case under the Narcotics Control Act, according to police.
During the operation, police seized a private car allegedly used in the abduction, five black vests bearing the letters "SRB", two fake SRB identity cards and a pair of handcuffs.
The SP said rescuing Hasan alive was a major achievement of the operation, adding that everyone involved in criminal activities would be brought to justice.