In two separate operations, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) apprehended 13 members of a railway ticket black market syndicate and two king-pins from various parts of the capital.

The people who were arrested include ticket blacker gang leaders Uttam Chandra Das, 30, and Md Selim, 50; gang members Anwar Hossain, also known as Kashem, 62; Abani Sarker Sumon, 35; Md Harun Miah, 60; Md Mannan, 50; Md Anwar Hossain, 50; Md Faruk, 62; Md Shahidul Islam Babu, 22; Md Jewel, 23; Md Abdur Rahim, 32; Md Morshed Miah, 45; Abdul Ali, 22; and Md Zobayer.

They were taken into custody by RAB-3 teams yesterday night (Thursday) in two different drives from the Kamalapur and Airport Railway Stations. Fourteen cell phones, 1,244 train tickets for various itineraries, and Taka 20,000 in cash were taken from the arrestees.

RAB Legal and Media Wing director Commander Khandaker Al Moin revealed the situation during a news conference at the organization's Media Center in Karwan Bazar. He stated that during initial questioning, the arrested individuals had already admitted to their crimes.

"Selim had spent a considerable amount of time managing his gang at Kamalapur Railway Station and Uttam at Airport Railway Station. With the assistance of dishonest staff members, they used to block and then retrieve the tickets for various trains from railway servers and booking counters. Gang members used to receive 50% of the proceeds from ticket blacking, with the other 50% going to dishonest railroad workers, according to Khandaker Al Moin said.

Md. Selim, one of the arrestees, has seven charges against him and has been involved in rail ticket blacking for the last 35 years. He was detained many times before reentering the filthy work after being released on bond. However, Uttam has four charges against him and has been operating his syndicate out of Airport Railway Station for the past fifteen years.

End//voice7news.tv