Rangpur's Notorious 'Meril Sumon', Accused in 26 Cases, Arrested in Midnight Raid at CO Bazar
Rajiv Hossain Sumon, alias Meril Sumon, a notorious criminal of Rangpur accused in 26 cases involving murder, robbery, mugging, extortion, arms and drugs, has been arrested by the Special Response Battalion (SRB)-13.
He was arrested in a raid in the CO Bazar area of Rangpur city at around 12:30 am on Sunday night (18 October). SRB-13 Rangpur deputy commander Major Saiful Islam disclosed the information at a press conference on Monday afternoon (19 October).
The arrested Meril Sumon is the son of Abu Hanif of the Shalbon area of Rangpur city. The SRB said he was caught in a raid conducted on the basis of secret information.
According to the agency, Meril Sumon had built his own gang over a long period and carried out extortion, robbery, mugging and other criminal activities in different areas of Rangpur city. A total of 26 cases against him are filed at police stations in Rangpur and elsewhere in the country.
The SRB also gave a breakdown of the cases. They include eight cases of attempted murder and assault, four of extortion, three of preparation for robbery, six under arms charges, one of murder, one of abduction, one under the Anti-Terrorism Act, one involving drugs and one under the Speedy Trial Act.
Meril Sumon also has a long history of previous arrests. In 2015, the then RAB-5 arrested him from Chapainawabganj on allegations of involvement in the murder case of Japanese citizen Kunio Hoshi.
Later, in 2019, the then RAB-13 arrested him from the Tajhat area of Rangpur city while preparing for a robbery, recovering a foreign pistol, a revolver, bullets, a shooter gun and a knife. In 2023, Rangpur Metropolitan Police arrested him from the Itanbari area of the city with a pistol and yaba tablets.
Most recently, in January this year, he was arrested in a joint raid in Thakurgaon on allegations of planning attacks on candidates, obstructing election campaigning and deteriorating the law and order situation centring on the national parliamentary election. The SRB deputy commander said he was released on bail every time.
The SRB claims Meril Sumon had long been involved in criminal activities, drug control networks and extortion through his own gang. He also faces allegations of illegally collecting money through extortion.
After the arrest, he was taken to the SRB-13 intelligence office for preliminary interrogation. The agency said surveillance and investigation are continuing to recover illegal weapons from him and to identify his associates.
The arrested accused has been handed over to Kotwali police station in Rangpur city for further legal action. The SRB also said regular drives against criminals and extortionists in different districts of Rangpur division will continue.
