A joint force has arrested 67 gang members during separate operations against the Kakon gang on the chars (river islands) of Padma river in Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna and Kushtia districts.
The operation was named ‘Operation First Light’, which began early Sunday.

Rajshahi Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mohammad Shahjahan confirmed the information during a press conference on Sunday afternoon.

The DIG said, “During the raid, we seized 10 firearms, two locally made guns, six pistols, 24 rounds of ammunition, five motorcycles, drugs, engine-powered boats, speedboats, weapon storage cylinders, six large machetes, 22 hatchets, four knives, two short swords, a cleaver, an iron pipe, a tube well and a grinding stone.”

He further added that the main goal of the operation was to ensure the safety of local residents along the Padma and put an end to long-standing criminal activities, including terrorism, drug trafficking, arms dealing, and extortion.

However, the Kakon gang has been accused of numerous crimes on the Padma chars, including murder, looting of sand and crops, abduction, extortion and other criminal activities.

The Padma chars were under the control of multiple criminal groups, including the Kakon gang, Tuku gang and Sayeed gang, who instilled fear among locals through murder, land grabbing, smuggling and drug trafficking.

It is noteworthy that on October 27, three people were killed in a shooting by the Kakon gang over grass-cutting disputes on the chars.