Police arrested seven members of an alleged snatching gang, including suspected top criminal ‘Kutta Faruk’, while they were preparing for a robbery and attack in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area late on Wednesday night.

Adabor police conducted the raid in Shekhertek area around midnight and seized machetes, samurai swords and several locally made sharp weapons from the suspects.

According to Adabor police, authorities recently arrested alleged juvenile gang leaders Billal Hossain alias Bhaista Billal and Maura Sohel from the area. Police said Faruk and his associates planned the attack on the informant to take revenge for those arrests.

Police said the gang brought hired criminals from Shariatpur and Madaripur along with local associates to carry out the attack. However, officers foiled their plan before they could execute it.

Police recovered several machetes, samurai swords and other sharp weapons during the operation and took the arrested suspects into custody for further legal action.

News of the arrests drew a crowd of local residents and alleged victims to the spot. Many residents described incidents of harassment and criminal activities they said the gang had carried out over the years.

Residents expressed relief after the arrests but also raised concerns that many criminals return to the area after securing bail and become involved in similar offences again.

Police said they would take further legal steps against the arrested suspects.