Khulna Police Launch Major Crackdown on Criminal Syndicates Following Surge in Violent Crime

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Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) have launched a sweeping, coordinated crackdown on organized crime, drug trafficking, and extortion in an effort to restore order following a surge in violent activities across the city. Authorities reported that 59 individuals were taken into custody during intensive operations conducted between Thursday night and Friday afternoon.

The campaign, directed by the KMP Commissioner, involved personnel from various city police stations and the detective branch. Among those arrested were two prominent figures identified as associates of the notorious gang leader Roni Chowdhury, widely known as “Grenade Babu.” The suspects, identified as “Kasai” Liton and Rifat, are believed to be key members of the “B-Company” syndicate, a group currently under heavy scrutiny for a series of brazen attacks and public displays of violence.

Public concern has reached a boiling point as residents increasingly criticize the perceived inaction and inability of law enforcement to curb the influence of nine identified criminal syndicates operating in the city. A recent report highlighting these failures noted that criminal groups have become so emboldened that they frequently engage in daylight killings, often celebrating their actions on social media. Grenade Babu, who faces at least 17 criminal cases ranging from murder to assault, has become the primary face of this growing insecurity, with witnesses reportedly too fearful to intervene or report crimes.

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In response to the deteriorating security environment, Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Hasan convened an emergency meeting with unit commanders earlier this week to strategize a comprehensive, intelligence-led offensive. This initiative follows a recent string of successes, including the arrest of four of Babu’s close aides and the detention of 63 other suspects in separate operations earlier in the week, which also saw the seizure of illegal weapons and multiple vehicles used in criminal activities.

KMP officials have reiterated a “zero-tolerance” policy toward all criminal elements, including extortionists, drug dealers, and street gangs. The police command confirmed that the special joint operations will remain ongoing as they seek to dismantle organized crime networks and stabilize the city’s law and order situation.