Police uncovers mystery of temple thefts in Barlekha, 6 arrested, stolen items recovered
Sylhet Bureau
The police have unearthed the mystery behind thefts at two temples in Barlekha Upazila, Moulvibazar District and six professional thieves were arrested, and various stolen worship items from the temples were recovered in police drive.
During a press conference held on Saturday, at the Moulvibazar Police Superintendent Office, Additional Police Superintendent (Crime and Ops) Nobel Chakma said, the incidents were purely motivated by theft. He further elaborated that the thefts occurred between the night of June 12 and the early hours of June 13 at the Shri Shri Udbhav Thakur Akhra Temple in the Pakhiyala area of Barlekha, and between the night of June 26 and the early hours of June 27 at the Dakshinbhag Sarbajanin Devasthali Temple. Separate cases were filed at Barlekha Police Station for both incidents.
Under the guidance of the Moulvibazar Police Superintendent and Additional Police Superintendent (Kulaura Circle), and supervised by the OC of Barlekha Police Station, an investigation led by Police Inspector (Investigation) Md. Habibur Rahman was initiated to solve the thefts. Based on confidential information and analysis of CCTV footage, operations were conducted. Initially, Ruhel Ahmad (30) was arrested from the railway area of Dakshinbhag Bazaar. Based on his confession, five others—Abu Tayeb Ahmad Saju (28), Nur Hosan (40), Jakir Hossain (31), Md. Alal Miya (38), and Shah Ali (42)—were apprehended through operations in various locations.
Following their information, stolen items were recovered from Shah Ali’s scrap shop in the Madhabgul area of Barlekha and the residences of other accused individuals. The recovered items include 11 brass pots, 2 brass bells, 2 flower trays, 1 brass lamp, 8 brass plates, 5 brass bowls, 2 sets of chip kosha, and 1 brass pitcher. Additionally, tools used in the thefts—1 cutter, 2 hacksaw blades, 1 hammer, 3 chisels, 3 hammers, 2 pieces of rod, and 1 red jug—were seized. The estimated market value of the recovered items exceeds 2 lakh taka. The temple authorities have identified the recovered items. During preliminary interrogations, the arrested individuals confessed to their involvement in the thefts.
The police stated that the detainees are professional criminals with multiple cases against them. No evidence of communal provocation was found in the temple thefts. Present at the press conference were Additional Police Superintendent Azmal Hossain, Barlekha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Mahbubur Rahman Molla, and Police Inspector (Investigation) Habibur Rahman.
The police have unearthed the mystery behind thefts at two temples in Barlekha Upazila, Moulvibazar District and six professional thieves were arrested, and various stolen worship items from the temples were recovered in police drive.
During a press conference held on Saturday, at the Moulvibazar Police Superintendent Office, Additional Police Superintendent (Crime and Ops) Nobel Chakma said, the incidents were purely motivated by theft. He further elaborated that the thefts occurred between the night of June 12 and the early hours of June 13 at the Shri Shri Udbhav Thakur Akhra Temple in the Pakhiyala area of Barlekha, and between the night of June 26 and the early hours of June 27 at the Dakshinbhag Sarbajanin Devasthali Temple. Separate cases were filed at Barlekha Police Station for both incidents.
Under the guidance of the Moulvibazar Police Superintendent and Additional Police Superintendent (Kulaura Circle), and supervised by the OC of Barlekha Police Station, an investigation led by Police Inspector (Investigation) Md. Habibur Rahman was initiated to solve the thefts. Based on confidential information and analysis of CCTV footage, operations were conducted. Initially, Ruhel Ahmad (30) was arrested from the railway area of Dakshinbhag Bazaar. Based on his confession, five others—Abu Tayeb Ahmad Saju (28), Nur Hosan (40), Jakir Hossain (31), Md. Alal Miya (38), and Shah Ali (42)—were apprehended through operations in various locations.
Following their information, stolen items were recovered from Shah Ali’s scrap shop in the Madhabgul area of Barlekha and the residences of other accused individuals. The recovered items include 11 brass pots, 2 brass bells, 2 flower trays, 1 brass lamp, 8 brass plates, 5 brass bowls, 2 sets of chip kosha, and 1 brass pitcher. Additionally, tools used in the thefts—1 cutter, 2 hacksaw blades, 1 hammer, 3 chisels, 3 hammers, 2 pieces of rod, and 1 red jug—were seized. The estimated market value of the recovered items exceeds 2 lakh taka. The temple authorities have identified the recovered items. During preliminary interrogations, the arrested individuals confessed to their involvement in the thefts.
The police stated that the detainees are professional criminals with multiple cases against them. No evidence of communal provocation was found in the temple thefts. Present at the press conference were Additional Police Superintendent Azmal Hossain, Barlekha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Mahbubur Rahman Molla, and Police Inspector (Investigation) Habibur Rahman.
