Keraniganj, Dec 19, (V7N) - In South Keraniganj, Dhaka, three individuals attempted a robbery at the Rupali Bank's Jinjira branch. Among them, two were teenagers and one was a young adult. The group consisted of a 22-year-old and two others aged 16. The suspects claimed that they were inspired by films or video games, which led them to act out a fantasy. They managed to steal 18 lakh Bangladeshi Taka (approximately $15,000), which they later stated was intended to help a kidney patient. Additionally, they mentioned plans to use the stolen money to buy an iPhone. Authorities are currently verifying the details of the patient’s address to confirm the truthfulness of their claims.
At a press conference on Thursday night, Dhaka District Superintendent of Police (SP) Ahmed Muid shared the findings of the investigation. He stated that, although their actions were criminal, the suspects might have been misguided rather than truly malicious. "They may have seen this as an adventure, inspired by movies, and did not seem to fully understand the consequences," SP Muid explained. He added that the police had spoken with the suspects at length, and even allowed them to speak with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to avoid any escalation.
The robbery unfolded when the group of robbers, armed with weapons, took six customers and twelve bank staff members hostage, forcing them to sit on the floor. The robbers wore masks to conceal their identities. Security footage from inside the bank, which surfaced later, shows the robbers guarding the hostages. One robber was seen sitting with a bag, while another stood on guard, keeping watch. A third robber was not captured in the footage.
Keraniganj Model Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sohrab Al Hasan confirmed that during interrogation, the suspects identified themselves as Sharafat, Nirob, and Sifat, though their identities are still being verified. The authorities recovered several weapons from the suspects, including four toy pistols, two knives, and a drill machine. Of the three suspects, two are from Keraniganj, while one is from Kashiani in Gopalganj.
The police continue their investigation, as they work to ascertain the full extent of the crime and the motives behind this bizarre robbery attempt.
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