RAB nabs 9 for abducting college student

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) yesterday arrested nine youths, including a girl, in connection with the abduction of Rajeeb, a student of Milestone College in capital.

The detainees also include a cousin of the abducted student.

According to RAB officials, the abductors kidnapped Meer Redwan Ahmed Rajeeb, a Class XII student of Miliestone College, on April 8 from the Hajarat Shahjalal International Airport intersection and demanded a ransom of Tk25 lakh from the victim’s family.

The father of the victim Meer Ranju Ahmed, a garment businessman in Tongi, had paid Tk 24 lakh as ransom to the gang in a bid to save his son’s life.

Redwan’s cousin Masud Rana, who is also known as Shaon alias Fardin, and Mohammad Rajeeb alias Akash were arrested from Shrulia of Demra in the capital on April 26.

Following their confessions, other member of the kidnapping gang Meer Noman Salehin alias Tarun was arrested from Bhuwanpur in Tangail, Mofazzl Hossain alias Babu, Ershad Ali, Mohammad Razzaq, Leebu Miah, Osman Goni and Sumaiya Sarmin Monami were arrested from different spots of the district town.

During primary interrogation, the detained kidnappers admitted that Redwan’s cousin Masud Rana, Akash and Babu were the masterminds behind the abduction of Redwan. As per their plot, Masud used his girlfriend Monami to lure Redwan into meeting her at the Airport intersection on April 8 afternoon.

When Redwan reached the designated venue, Masud, Babu, Ruhul and Ershad picked him up on a microbus and took him to Nolinbazar in Tangail.

Immediately after the abduction, the criminals demanded Tk 25 lakh from Redwan’s father as ransom and on April 11, Redwan’s father paid Tk24 lakh to Masud and Babu. The criminals later set Redwan free near the capital’s Bangabandhu Bridge.

RAB officials also said they had recovered Tk7 lakh from Masud and Tk2 lakh and a motorcycle from Tarun.