The unexpected sight of a weapon made them hesitate
A young man in Dhaka’s Panthapath area attempted theft using a realistic-looking toy gun, causing panic among bystanders before being apprehended by police.
The incident unfolded around 2:30 pm on January 28, 2025.
Eyewitnesses claimed that they saw the 18-year-old, later identified as a student from Mohammadpur, being confronted by bystanders before police intervened.
The situation began when worshippers at a mosque inside the SIBL Foundation Hospital noticed that a pair of shoes had gone missing during prayers.
Concerned, they reviewed CCTV footage and identified a young man as the likely culprit.
Determined to confront him, the group stepped outside and spotted someone resembling the individual in the footage.
As they approached, the suspect suddenly drew what looked like a pistol from his waist.
The unexpected sight of a weapon made them hesitate, fearing for their safety.
Meanwhile, a man riding a rickshaw with his child happened to witness the suspect brandishing the firearm.
Alarmed, he shouted: “Mugger!”
This cry of distress quickly spread among the passing people, intensifying the panic.
Realising he was drawing too much attention, the suspect attempted to flee towards the Panthapath Traffic Police Box.
However, Sub-Inspector Khabir Hossain, who was issuing traffic violation tickets nearby, quickly noticed the commotion and stepped in to intercept him.
As the officer tried to detain him, the youth resisted, holding tightly onto the pistol.
Despite repeated orders to drop the weapon, he refused to comply. Several locals joined the struggle, attempting to overpower him.
During the scuffle, Sub-Inspector Hossain was also struck a few times as the crowd tried to subdue the suspect.
Eventually, the youth was overpowered and taken to the Panthapath Traffic Police Box before being handed over to Kalabagan Police Station.
Following the arrest, Kalabagan Police Officer-in-Charge Moktaruzzaman confirmed that the firearm was not real.
It was a toy gun designed to look like an actual weapon.
During initial questioning, the youth admitted that he had used the toy pistol to commit theft.
The young man claimed that a desperate need for money drove him to such actions.
Authorities are now preparing to file a case against him, with further investigations underway.
Interestingly, this is not the first time a toy gun has been used during a robbery in Bangladesh.
In December 2024, two minors and a young man attempted to rob Rupali Bank’s Jinjira branch with toy guns.
After being caught, the trio revealed that they intended to purchase iPhones from the stolen money.
Loading ...