Love trap

SM Mizanur Rahman :
Organised gangs of criminals are using young ladies for blackmailing and abducting targeted men in the city.
According to plainclothes police sources, the gangs, who are using young good-looking and sweet-voice women in a bid to trap affluent people, are active in other metropolitan cities also.
On Thursday, police arrested seven people including a female from the city’s Kalshi area in connection with kidnapping the targeted men.
The arrested persons have been identified as Meherun Nessa Keya, Liaquat Ali, Kamrul Islam, Shahidul Islam, Nazmul Huq Didar, Mohammad Ruhul Amin and Obaidur Rahman and recovered lethal weapons and 10 mobile phone sets.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Mirpur Zone) said that the gang using young ladies are engaged in blackmailing and abducting targeted men in the city.
 “After taking a nude photograph of a victim with a young female, the gang members then issue threat to the man to pay ransom. Otherwise, his photograph with nude lady will be sent to his family members,” he told The New Nation on Thursday.
Another high official of intelligence agency said, these organised criminals, which operate a strong network throughout the country, collect the cell phone numbers of society’s affluent citizens tactfully from bars, hotels, club parties, both government and non-government offices and other centres. He said, later the gang sends those phone numbers to their paid girls to develop love and friendship with their targeted people, who cannot resist the charm of the young women.
 “At first the targeted man gets a missed call. When he answers the call, he will hear ‘sorry’ from a woman in a sweet and smiling voice. And later he will get missed calls repeatedly from the same women and then at one stage the targeted man started feeling affection for her,” the official said.
According to plainclothes sources, when the relationship turns into love or friendship, the lady asks for a date at a suitable place, where another gang of the kidnappers equipped with handcuffs, fake firearms and vehicles, takes position to abduct the targeted person.
The official of Detective Branch (DB) Police of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said, the gang then kidnaps the person, keeps him confined in a secret place, and demands ransom from his family members.
 “Sometimes, the kidnappers identify themselves as members of the law enforcement agencies. However, we have come to know about the latest technique of using young women in the crime after arresting a number of a professional kidnapping gangs,” he said.
Apart from these, young women request the targeted man to visit her residence to have a nice day with her.
As the man goes to the woman’s apartment or flat, her accomplices introducing themselves as plainclothe police handcuff the victim and demand huge amount of money for his release, the official said.
Besides, the gang forces the targeted man to pose for a photograph with the nude woman at gunpoint.
 “After taking the photograph, the gang starts threatening the victim to pay ransom, otherwise, his photograph with a young nude girl will be sent to his family members. The victims are then compelled to do so as there remains no second option than paying the money so demanded.  
An official of intelligence agency said their demand usually ranges from Tk 50,000 to Tk 200,000.
“These gangs target those aged between 25 and 30 years. Many pay the sum without informing police and those, who do not have the ability to pay, come to us,” he added.