SYLHET, May 23, 2026 (BSS) – Police have detained seven suspected members of an inter-district snatcher gang along with three knives during separate drives in different areas of Sylhet city on Friday.

The detainees were arrested from the Mahajan Patti Kashtoghar and Osmani Shishu Park areas of the city.

Confirming the matter to BSS today, Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Model Police Station Khan Md. Mainul Zakir said that the drives were conducted as part of ongoing operations to maintain law and order and curb criminal activities in the city.

Earlier on Friday, a member of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Emon Acharya, was stabbed to death near Keane Bridge area while assisting in an operation to catch snatchers. Later, police detained an alleged snatcher, identified as Bappi, in connection with the incident.

Police said a drive was conducted in the Kashtoghar area around 5:30 pm on Friday. Sensing the presence of law enforcement, several suspects attempted to flee. Three suspected snatchers were detained from the spot along with a knife.

The detainees were identified as Mirza Sabbir, 45, of Alipur in Sunamganj Sadar; Hasan, 25, of Bishwambharpur in Sunamganj, currently living in Purbo Peer Moholla in Sylhet; and Md Jahed Ahmad, 35, of Khanua in South Surma, Sylhet.

In another drive around 3:30 pm near a public toilet adjacent to Osmani Shishu Park, police detained four more suspected muggers along with two knives.

The detainees were identified as Md Saja Mia, 32, of Saodagortula; Safar Ali, 25, of Bishwambharpur in Sunamganj, currently residing in Akhalia Nayabazar in Sylhet; Rubel Malat, 35, of Naria in Shariatpur; and Md Mosharraf Hossain, 36, of Machimpur in Sylhet.

During primary interrogation, the detainees confessed to their involvement in organised mugging activities for a long time, police said. They reportedly snatched cash, mobile phones and other valuables from pedestrians by threatening them with sharp weapons.

The OC said cases have been filed against the detainees under relevant laws and they have been sent to court.