Police detain 252 in Cumilla youth gang crackdown

Police detained 252 people during a coordinated crackdown on youth gangs across 18 police stations in Cumilla district on Thursday evening, in a concerted bid to stem the rising tide of juvenile delinquency.

The operation began on Thursday (October 8) evening and continued until late at night under the direction of Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman. District police units and the Detective Branch jointly conducted raids in areas identified as hotspots for gang activity, with senior police officials also taking part. Meanwhile, the authorities are scrutinising the detainees’ alleged involvement in criminal activities before deciding what further legal action to pursue.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Md Lutfur Rahman said the sweep formed part of ongoing efforts to deter adolescents from drifting into crime. Nevertheless, he stressed that close monitoring was in place to ensure that innocent people were not subjected to harassment under the pretext of law enforcement, a safeguard that is essential if public trust in the operation is to be preserved.

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He added that similar operations would continue as part of broader endeavours to curb juvenile crime across the district. Consequently, residents of known hotspots can expect a sustained police presence in the coming weeks, although the outcome of the cases against those detained will ultimately determine whether the strategy proves effective.