'Keep 2 Crore Taka Ready, Otherwise Do Not Do Business'; Extortion Demand and Attack on Internet Provider in Chittagong
Attack with axe on DDN office right after leak of call record, traders in panic
Miscreants carried out an armed daylight attack on the office of internet service provider 'DDN' in Chittagong, looting 35 lakh taka. Prior to the attack, the exiled David Imon demanded a 2 crore taka extortion payment over the phone from the owner.
"If you want to do business, keep 2 crore taka ready. And give 10 lakh taka every month. Only then can you do business in Chittagong city, otherwise you cannot. I know everything about your profile. See what happens after two days."—David Imon alias Mobarak Hossain Imon was threatening Adil Bin Mamun, the owner of internet service provider 'Digital Dot Net' (DDN), in a 7-minute-40-second call record that has spread on social media. Exactly two days after this subtle threat, a horrific armed daylight attack and looting took place at the DDN office in the Chandanpura Access Road area under Chawkbazar Police Station in the city on Monday (July 13) at around 12:30 PM.
In the leaked call record, David Imon was further heard saying, "I do not do business, I am David Imon speaking. You ask the Police Commissioner for my data. We will do the business from now on, you do not do business anymore. If you want to do business, you have seen what happened at the house of Mujib of Smart Group. You have done business for 17 to 18 years, and we are moving around with 17 to 18 murder cases after August 5." When the victim Adil Bin Mamun refused to pay the money, Imon said, "If you want to do business, keep 2 crore taka ready. And give 10 lakh taka every month. Otherwise, do not do business. We will run the business."
Following this threat, a masked armed group of 20 to 30 people suddenly entered the DDN office on Monday afternoon. CCTV footage shows the attackers vandalizing office computers, mobile phones of officers and employees, and furniture with axes and sharp weapons. Riadwanul Kabir, the director of DDN, stated that the attackers confined the officers and employees, created intense panic, and looted 35 lakh taka in cash kept for paying employee salaries.
Notably, earlier on February 28, associates of exiled terrorist Sajjad Ali fired gunshots at the residence of Mujibur Rahman, a director of Smart Group, located near this office, demanding crores of taka in extortion. Police initially suspect that David Imon is controlling the underworld of Chittagong on behalf of Sajjad Ali. He is an accused in seven cases, including the sensational double murder in Bakalia. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Habibur Rahman and Chawkbazar Police Station OC Nur Hossain Mamun inspected the spot. Police have collected CCTV footage and are trying to identify and arrest those involved. A case has been filed with Chawkbazar Police Station regarding this incident.
//DBTech/correspondent/ED//
