3 held over extortion posing as DGFI members at Uttara

The arrestees are Md Russell Mahbub alias Masum, 42, Sohel Mirza, 41, and Md Sajib, 36.

Quoting Uttara East Police Station, DMP's DC (Media) Akhter Hossain said Saturday noon that a patrol team from the police station went to a flat on the 10th floor of a building on Road No. 3 in Sector 4 around 8am on Friday after receiving information through the national emergency service 999.

Police said several people were threatening flat owner Kaiyum Shahriar Zahedi claiming to be DGFI members and telling him that a case had been filed against him.

At one stage, they demanded Tk 10 lakh from him to settle the purported case and Zahedi paid them Tk 159,000 out of fear.

Later, suspecting their activities, he sought police assistance by calling 999.

Police subsequently reached the spot and found a DGFI identity card in the possession of one of the suspects.

During questioning, the suspects admitted to extorting money while posing as DGFI members, police said.

Police recovered a fake DGFI identity card, a motorcycle, Tk 159,000 in cash, a walkie-talkie and a pair of handcuffs from their possession.

A case has been filed with Uttara East Police Station and legal procedures are underway to send the arrestees to court, reports UNB.