CUMILLA: A total of 624 suspected members of juvenile gangs were detained in separate drives across Cumilla yesterday, police said.
The drives were conducted amid growing concern over juvenile crime in different parts of the district, Additional Superintendent of Police (Media) Lutfor Rahman told The Daily Star today.
Most of those detained were later handed over to their guardians after police obtained written undertakings from them that they would not engage in criminal activities in future, he said.
Police are also scrutinising whether some of the detained youths were involved in drug-related offences and other crimes, the officer added.
The drives were conducted separately by the district police's 18 police stations and various other units to prevent juvenile gang members from becoming involved in crime and maintain law and order, police said.
Of those detained, 75 were in Kotwali Model Police Station, 46 in Sadar Dakshin Model Police Station, 50 in Burichang Police Station, 41 in Manoharganj Police Station, 59 in Daudkandi Police Station and 35 in Laksam Police Station, according to police.
In Daudkandi, however, 17 of the 59 detained youths allegedly vandalised the police station. They reportedly chanted slogans against police and damaged tables, chairs and a door of the duty officer's room.
Daudkandi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sajedul Islam told The Daily Star that the youths detained in the drive were later handed over to their guardians.
Police officials said they were keeping the activities of juvenile gang members under close watch in different parts of the district.
Such drives will continue to prevent youths from becoming involved in criminal activities and ensure public safety, they said.
The officials also stressed the importance of parents and local communities in keeping adolescents away from crime.
Police have recently stepped up surveillance and drives against teenage gangs in Cumilla following the killing of Ishiat Shahriar Opratim, the 13-year-old son of Comilla University teacher Nahida Begum. - Daily Star/ANN
