KOLKATA: At least three of the nine robbers who looted a house in Narendrapur in the guise of policemen early on Monday are Bangladeshi nationals. The trio is among the four arrested so far by police in the case.
Interrogation of the driver of the gang’s getaway car, Dipu Sharma, threw up names of the other suspects, of whom Rezaul Sheikh, Mamon Sheikh and Sabuj Sheikh — all Bangladeshis — are already in custody. Sharma, Rezaul and Mamon were apprehended by the locals as the gang was fleeing with their loot from the house of Arup Dutta. They were later handed over to the police later. Sabuj was arrested on Tuesday.
Among the four arrested, Rezaul had earlier served a seven-year jail term for a dacoity in Kolkata. Cops said it was he who had masterminded the
robbery at the Dutta house.
Raids are on to nab the remaining five gang members. Most of the Rs 70,000 and 130g of gold jewellery has already been recovered.
Sleuths said the three Bangladeshis were residents of Jogeshgunj. After questioning the three, cops learnt that Rezaul had been lying low after his release from jail. A few months ago, he had rented a place to stay at Sonarpur’s Kandhar. From there, Rezaul started contacting his criminal associates in
Bangladesh
, Kolkata and its suburbs. During this time, he prepared a blueprint for the robbery. A team was formed and plans drawn up.
Superintendent of Baruipur police Rashid Munir Khan said: “We have completed the test identification parade of the four suspects in our custody. We shall take them in police remand and interrogate them further to find out about the others in the gang. Our efforts to recover the rest of the loot is on. We shall also question them about the source of their firearms.”