Two Armed Cadres of Banned Jubo League Arrested in Ashulia
The quiet of Aukpara Adarshagram in Ashulia was shattered in the dead of night. Sirens blared, police vehicles lit up the area, and within moments detectives surrounded the locality. A special operation began—and two top cadres of the notorious shooter Saddam group were captured. The two arrested individuals are senior armed cadres of the banned Awami Jubo League, detained by the Dhaka District North Detective Branch (DB) Police.
The arrestees are Anwar Hossain Jony alias Jontu Jony (32), son of Gias Uddin of Rajarchar village under Munshiganj Sadar Police Station and an active member of Ashulia Thana Jubo League, and Mohammad Apu alias Kailya Apu alias Doshshu Apu (28), son of late Jamal Uddin from Lalbagh area under Chawkbazar Police Station in the capital. According to DB police, following directives from Dhaka District Police, a special operation was conducted around 10:30 pm on Tuesday in Aukpara Adarshagram under Ashulia Police Station. During the operation, the two terrorists—who had been in hiding—were arrested. Both are members of Ashulia Thana Jubo League and close associates of top-listed fugitive criminal Saddam Hossain Talukder.
Local residents said that despite the fall of the authoritarian Awami League government on August 5, Jubo League leader Saddam Hossain Talukder continued to maintain control over the area. However, panic spread among criminals upon sensing police presence. Police sources revealed that Anwar Hossain Jony has four cases filed against him, while Mohammad Apu has ten cases. On Wednesday afternoon, both were shown arrested in a murder case (No. 50) related to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement filed at Ashulia Police Station and were sent to court. They will be shown arrested in the remaining cases one by one through court proceedings.
DB police claim that the Saddam group, comprising Jubo League members and top criminals, had long established a reign of terror across Ashulia and Savar through extortion, land grabbing, armed processions, and open violence. Locals alleged that armed cadres of the banned Chhatra League and Jubo League would attack in groups if extortion demands were not met. Armed with machetes, Chinese axes, iron hammers, rods, sharp cleavers, GI pipes, and even firearms, they unleashed violence in the area. Multiple allegations exist against them, including shooting and killing protesters and attacking demonstrators during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Confirming the arrests, Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Saidul Islam of Dhaka District North DB told Daily Desher Potro, “This criminal group created an atmosphere of fear and terror in the area. We are not sparing anyone. Our operations will continue to bring all offenders under the law.” Police stated that operations have been intensified to arrest shooter Saddam and the remaining members of his group.
