Robbery, molestation in bus: 3 arrested in Tangail

Police in Tangail's Mirzapur have arrested three individuals in connection with a robbery and molestation of female passengers on a moving bus travelling from Dhaka to Rajshahi.

Some cash and looted valuables have been recovered as well, said Md Mosharraf Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Mirzapur Police Station to The Business Standard.  

The police recovered three looted mobile phones, one knife, and cash amounting to  Tk29,370 during the operation.

The arrested individuals were Md Shahidul Islam alias Mahidul alias Muhit, 29, Md Sabuj 30, and Md Sharifuzzaman alias Sharif,28, all of whom are suspected members of an inter-district robbery gang.

On Monday night (17 February), a group of robbers boarded the bus and, over a span of three hours, looted passengers' belongings and molested female passengers. 

Citing victims of the incident, media reports said the Unique Road Royals bus left Gabtoli at around 11pm on Monday with around 40 passengers. The robbery started at around 12:30am on Tuesday when the bus reached Tangail's Mirzapur.

The incident took place after the bus picked up some people from the road in the Chandra area of Gazipur.

Meanwhile, the bus supervisor, driver, and the driver's assistant were initially detained but they have been released on bail due to a lack of specific charges against them.

The Baraigram Administrative Court granted their bail plea on Wednesday (19 February), according to court sources.

They have been released on bail on the condition of appearing at the Mirzapur Police Station as the incident took place in an area under its jurisdiction.

A case has been filed three days after a robbery and molestation incident occurred.