Homeowner rescued after Ctg hostage drama

An elite unit of police foiled a robbery attempt by storming a residential flat in the port city's Panchlaish area after suspected robbers held the homeowner hostage for two and a half hours.
Police have detained two persons -- Md Akash and Baizid -- while two other suspects -- Sabbir and Riyad -- managed to escape before law enforcers cordoned off the area.
According to police, the four-member gang tried to rob an apartment belonging to Lokman Hossain on the second floor of a six-story building opposite the Panchlaish Probartak Sangha.
Police and local sources said Lokman is the son-in-law of industrialist Abul Khair. He is a former managing director of Eastern Refinery Limited in Chattogram.
The incident took place between 12:00pm and 2:30pm.
CMP Commissioner Hasib Aziz, who was present at the crime scene during the operation, said a SWAT unit of the Counter Terrorism Division of Chattogram police conducted the rescue operation and arrested two suspects.
"We used a sound grenade to rescue the house owner," the CMP boss said.
The injured homeowner has been sent to the hospital, and two suspects have been taken into police custody, he added.
According to local residents, Lokman owns the seven-storey apartment building and lives with his family in a duplex.
Witnesses, staff, and police said Akash and Sabbir work as domestic workers in Lokman's house. They are among the seven domestic workers in the house.
Baizid and Riyad -- the suspects who escaped, were former employees of the building.
At around noon, Baizid and Riyad joined Akash and Sabbir in the flat with the intention to commit robbery. Lokman and his wife Parveen Akhter were at home.
Armed with sharp weapons, they tied Lokman and his wife's hands and feet and kept them in separate rooms.
However, at one point, a domestic help started screaming, prompting two of the robbers to flee. Baizid too was trying to escape but was caught by the building's security guards.
Receiving information, Panchlaish police along with Rab, army, and SWAT members arrived at the scene around 1:00pm and cordoned off the area.
Shortly afterwards, the CMP commissioner arrived at the scene.
Following the commissioner's orders, the SWAT team attempted to break down the door. At one point, Akash took the Lokman into a bathroom and locked the door.
Police later broke the bathroom door and rescued the owner. A sound grenade was exploded during the operation.
The operation ended around 2:20pm. Akash, who was injured during the operation, has been taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
CMP Deputy Commissioner (North) Mohammad Amir told The Daily Star that police have started an investigation over the incident.
"The two fugitive suspects have been identified. Police are trying to locate and arrest them. Further details will be provided after the investigation," he said.
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