CCB arrest 75 men involved in illegal foreign cigarette sale, cylinder refill, gambling in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: In a recent operation, the Central Crime Branch Police in Bengaluru successfully dismantled an illegal activity racket, resulting in the arrest of individuals involved in vending foreign cigarettes, illegal LPG cylinder refilling, and operating gambling outlets. The raids led to the confiscation of cash, cigarettes, and cylinders collectively worth lakhs of rupees.
Two individuals, identified as Parasmal (40) and Montu Singh (45) from North India, were apprehended during the raid conducted at a shop in Bhuvaneshwari Nagar under the Konanakunte Police Station jurisdiction and another shop located in the 'Indraprastha' building under the Puttenahalli Police Station jurisdiction. The Central Crime Branch Police seized foreign cigarettes valued at Rs 4 lakh from the arrested individuals. The crackdown occurred after receiving information about the illicit supply and sale of foreign cigarettes in the city.
In a separate operation, the CCB Police targeted 'Sharabish Enterprises' in Koramangala, suspecting illegal refilling of domestic LPG cylinders at the establishment. Harish, an employee at the outlet, was arrested, and the police seized 135 LPG cylinders from various companies, totaling Rs 14 lakh in value. Additionally, two refilling rods, one weighing scale, and a truck were confiscated. The raid was prompted by information suggesting unauthorized stocking and refilling of cylinders from Leo, MVR, Jyothi, Agni Surya gas companies.
In another raid, the CCB Police inspected two clubs in the city suspected of hosting illegal gambling activities. Over 70 individuals were arrested during the operation, and cash amounting to lakhs of rupees was seized. At the Konanakunte Cultural Association Club, 26 individuals were arrested, and Rs 1 lakh in cash was confiscated. Simultaneously, 46 people were arrested at the Indian Poker Association in the Young Man Indian Association in Pulakeshi Nagar Police Station jurisdiction, where Rs 2.29 lakh in cash was seized.
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EC demands extra security as unrest grips Bangladesh afresh
Dhaka (PTI): The Election Commission (EC) has demanded extra security for its chief, other commissioners and officials as fresh unrest visibly gripped Bangladesh after gunmen shot an upcoming parliamentary polls candidate and frontline leader of last year's violent street movement dubbed 'July Uprising'.
"The EC has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) urging comprehensive security arrangements for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Election Commissioners (ECs), senior officials of the Election Commission Secretariat," the state-run BSS news agency reported on late Saturday.
The EC simultaneously sought the extra security for its field-level offices ahead of the 13th national election, as two of them came under attack in southeastern Lakshmipur and southwestern Pirojpur by unidentified miscreants after the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming polls on Thursday.
The commission demanded an additional escort vehicle for the CEC, while one such police escort with a vehicle was currently in place for him. It asked for round-the-clock police escorts for the four commissioners and the senior secretary.
The letter said the enhanced security measures were "urgent and necessary," while EC officials said their 10 regional offices, 64 district election offices and 522 sub-district level offices would store important documents and election materials.
The EC on Thursday said the upcoming parliamentary election would be held on February 12 next year, while a day later, Sharif Osman Hadi was shot from a close range in the head, critically wounding him, as he initiated his election campaign from a constituency in the capital.
Critically ill former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) simultaneously asked Muhammad Yunus' government to provide security for all candidates in the upcoming election after the attack on Hadi, who leads a radical right-wing cultural group called Inquiab Mancha.
"We demand that the real culprit be identified immediately and brought under the law, and we call upon this government to ensure the security of all candidates without delay," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.
Hadi was also a frontline leader of last year's student-led violent uprising that toppled then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, 2024.
His Inquilab Mancha was also at the forefront of a campaign to disband the Awami League, which the interim government complied with in May this year, disqualifying the party from contesting the polls.
The government on Saturday ordered a nationwide security clampdown called 'Operation Devil Hunt 2' amid escalated fears over the law and order situation and promised to issue firearms licenses for election candidates for their own security.
Home adviser (retd) Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the government had taken steps to ensure special security for the "frontline fighters" of the July Uprising and promised to issue firearms licenses for the election candidates.
He emphasised that the second phase of the 'Devil Hunt' was aimed at helping ensure public safety and combat the growing threat of illegal arms.
The operation was initially launched in February this year following protests over an attack on the private house of a former minister of the ousted government in the northern suburb of the capital, when it targeted alleged "henchmen" and supporters of the now disbanded Awami League.
