Rivals stab teen gang leader to death

A youth was killed in broad daylight in a clash between two rival groups over territorial dominance in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area yesterday afternoon, painting a grim picture of the persistent violence linked to juvenile gangs in the locality.

The incident took place around 4:30pm along the embankment road in the Rayerbazar Boddhobhumi area under Mohammadpur Police Station, said Abdullah Al Mamun, assistant commissioner (Mohammadpur Zone).

CCTV footage of the incident shows five to six individuals chasing a group of three, with both sides carrying weapons, in a chaotic scene unfolding in the open.

At one point, Imon, who was the leader of the “Alex Group”, a juvenile gang network in the area, fell to the ground. He was carrying a weapon but he dropped it while trying to flee.

The attackers, who were from a rival faction reportedly led by Arman and Shahrukh, then caught up with him and repeatedly struck him with sharp weapons as bystanders remained helpless, said police and as seen in CCTV footage.

Imon, widely known as “Alex Imon”, was taken to the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in critical condition, where doctors later declared him dead, morgue sources said.

Following the incident, members of the Rayerbazar police outpost conducted a drive and arrested three suspects -- Saif, 23, Tuhin, 20, and Rabbi Kazi, 25 -- all believed to be members of the Arman group.

Police also recovered three machetes, a cutter, and a steel plate from their possession.

Local sources said tensions had long been simmering between the two groups over control of the area, eventually erupting into Sunday’s deadly clash.

Imon had 18 cases filed against him, including for robbery and murder, AC Mamun said, adding that the arrested individuals were also accused in several cases.

Regular drives are ongoing and efforts are being intensified to arrest the suspects, said Ibne Mizan, deputy commissioner  of Tejgaon division.