Eight sent on remand in Chattogram ISP office extortion, looting Case

A Chattogram court has placed eight accused on one-day remand each in a case filed over extortion, vandalism and looting at the office of internet service provider (ISP) Digital Dot Net (DDN).

The order was issued on Thursday (July 16) by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

The remanded accused are Md Yunus, Imran Hossain Chang, Akbar Hossain, Md Sumon, Md Monir alias Keherman, Md Gias Uddin, Md Nayan and Mohammad Abdul Nahid alias Farhad.

The suspects were arrested on Wednesday during a joint operation conducted by Chawkbazar Police Station, Detective Branch (DB) and RAB-7 at different locations across the port city.

According to the case statement, the owner of DDN received a WhatsApp call on July 11 from a person identifying himself as "David Emon," who allegedly demanded Tk 2 crore as a one-time payment and Tk 10 lakh in monthly extortion.

The caller reportedly threatened the business owner after the demand was rejected.

Two days later, on Monday afternoon, a group of 30 to 40 armed men allegedly stormed the DDN office at Maryam Heights on Chandanpura Access Road under Chawkbazar Police Station.

The attackers allegedly vandalised computers, laptops, printers, fingerprint devices, furniture and glass doors, causing an estimated Tk 15 lakh in damage. They also reportedly looted Tk 47,000 in cash, three Android mobile phones, a Canon printer, and a shoulder bag belonging to one of the company's directors, Ariful Islam.

According to the FIR, the bag contained around Tk 35 lakh, which had been kept for employees' salary payments.

Briefing reporters on Wednesday, CMP Additional Police Commissioner Muhammad Faisal Ahmed said law enforcement agencies are working to trace the whereabouts of the alleged mastermind, David Emon, using intelligence and technological resources.

He added that a special operation is underway to arrest Emon and other members of the extortion ring.