PBI arrests leader of gang responsible for stealing autorickshaw batteries

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) on Thursday arrested the ringleader of a gang that allegedly steals batteries from autorickshaws in Savar.

The arrestee was identified as Ali Haider alias Nahid Hasan alias Nahid (27).

A PBI team arrested Nahid while investigating the murder of auto-rickshaw driver Sheikh Mintu (35), Mohammad Khorshed Alam, superintendent of Dhaka district PBI said today.

Mintu was killed allegedly by "battery snatchers" around 8:30pm on July 13 this year, he said.

According to investigators, around 6:30pm on July 13, Nahid and one other member of the "battery snatching gang" hired Mintu's autorickshaw near Khorshed Commissioner's house in Ashulia Police Station to go to Gerua in Ashulia. Mintu had asked for Tk 200 as rent but they negotiated and fixed the fare at Tk 170.

After reaching Mokamtek area, rickshaw driver Mintu asked for his fare and refused to go any further as it was dark. But the snatchers had no money to pay, the investigators said quoting the arrestee.

The rickshaw driver started shouting as they failed to give his fare, said SP Khorshed. At one point, Nahid stabbed Mintu in the stomach and neck with a knife. Nahid left his sandals on the spot and threw the knife used in the murder into a nearby pond, said the PBI SP.

Rashidul Islam, inspector of PBI and also investigating officer of the case, told this newspaper that in primary investigation Nahid has admitted that he is the leader of a battery snatching ring.

"They have been snatching batteries for some time and selling them in different parts of the country. There are some 10 to 11 other members of the gang and we are conducting drives," said Rashidul.

Asked about the snatching, Rashidul said that their earlier used to conduct petty crimes but for the last two years they started snatching battery from auto-rickshaw. Besides, snatching battery they were also involved in snatching money from rickshaw drivers, he added.

There are four batteries in an auto-rickshaw and the snatchers can sell these batteries for at least Tk 20,000 to 30,000 although it's real price is Tk 40,000.