ROUTES 666

ROUTE 666 – where the devil logon – BEWARE of the streets where MOLOM PARTY prowl

I’m sure everybody read reports about the infamous MOLOM PARTY in Dhaka. The victims are not only stripped of all valuables but left unconscious on the street to lose their eye sight and in some instances…die. Eid is around the corner and yet, the sense of security seems to be degrading day by day.
Be aware if your CNG driver suddenly stops near the Film Development Corporation (FDC) gate near Karwan Bazar, Banani Road 11, in front of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel or other notorious places marked 666, after dusk complaining of a breakdown. Because in a zippy, three to four young men would close in from both sides and jump inside the vehicle. One of them would sit on your lap, if you were alone. The others would hold a gun or a knife against your head.
In a muggers-friendly situation, and for example in Tejgaon - the autorickshaw would then start and proceed towards the Tongi Diversion road and on the way, your pockets will be emptied.
Finally, the muggers would dump you in an alley after you have had a fill of chilli powder and tiger balm in your eyes. P.S.: - You may lose your eye sight or even incur FATAL DEATH.
Mugging in and about the Karwan Bazar rail gate, Banani Road 11, Tejgaon, Shahbagh and more has become frequent in the past week.
Pedestrians allege that a group of muggers living in the slums close to the truck station together with some CNG drivers commit the crimes.
A real life story:
"The muggers jumped into the CNG as the driver stopped it complaining of a fault," he narrated. "The next thing I knew was two people sitting beside me with guns pressed against my waist. After taking my mobile phone, wallet, watch and other valuables, they roamed around the Tongi Diversion road for sometime and then finally dropped me near Beg Rubber Industry lane."
"Before I was thrown out on the streets, they rubbed tiger balm and chilli powder into my eyes so that I cannot note down the CNG number. It felt my eyes were on fire. Some rickshaw pullers took me to a nearby makeshift shop, I splashed water on my eyes for at least two hours before the pain subsided. I rested for a while and then went home," Ahmad added.
A number of senior citizens suggested that the autorickshaws should have grille-doors for the passenger chamber similar to the ones in the driver's. They also said the driver's ID and the vehicle's registration number should be displayed on the inner side of the windshield.
A rickshawpuller, Rahmat Miah, narrated his experience of witnessing a mugging scene in Tejgaon. An army officer was robbed of Tk 13,000, a mobile phone and a watch on December 24 2004. He too was dumped with a mixture of tiger balm and chilli powder partying in his eyes.
These victims had one and the same question: Why is the situation so bad even after anti-crime drives by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)? Where are our heroes in BLACK and green&navy blue?
Shamim, a CNG driver, said drivers with fake licences are involved with the muggers. They do not work under a single employer for long. He said such incidents have been happening for quite some time but the Tejgaon Police Station has been quite ineffective in getting hold of the muggers.
The ill-lit Tongi Diversion road looks completely deserted after dusk with only a traffic policeman at the Satrasta roundabout, making it unsafe for single pedestrians and passengers using this route.