Overnight drive at 18 police stations: 275 detained in Cumilla anti-teen gang, drug and mugging operation, 133 freed on bond
Photo: Collected
Cumilla district police have detained 275 people in a special drive carried out simultaneously at 18 police stations in the district. The drive was conducted to curb drug trading, teen gangs and mugging.
The drive began on Friday (23 October) evening and continued until dawn today, Saturday. Cumilla Additional Superintendent of Police (Finance and Administration) Md Lutfor Rahman confirmed the matter in the afternoon.
The detainees were screened to verify whether they were involved in any crime. On that basis, legal action is being taken against 142 people, while the remaining 133 were handed over to guardians or sureties on bond.
According to local police sources, police personnel from the district’s 18 police stations and the Detective Branch (DB) took part in the drive on the instructions of Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman. Searches were carried out at crime-prone spots in the city and in various police station areas of the district. Surveillance was stepped up in particular at places where there are complaints of teenagers gathering and causing nuisance.
Senior officials of the district police also took part directly in the field. Besides curbing drug trading, mugging and teen gang activity, identifying those involved in crime was also an aim of the drive.
The additional superintendent of police said this is part of the district police’s regular drives to prevent adolescents and young people from getting involved in crime. Necessary legal action is being taken only after verifying who is involved in crime. He said a close watch is also being kept to ensure that no innocent person is harassed.
He also said such drives to prevent juvenile crime, drug trading and mugging will continue.
By the numbers
Citing police sources, the same report also gave a phase-by-phase breakdown: 624 people were detained in the first phase, of whom 451 were released to their families on bond and legal action was taken against 173; 254 were detained in the second phase and 415 at 18 police stations in the third.
District perspective
Cumilla district police also carried out a series of anti-teen gang drives last month. According to a Dhaka Times report on 28 September, a total of 1,293 people were detained in the three phases of that drive.
Sources
Background source: Dhaka Times, 28 September 2026
