7 murders in a decade: Teenage gang violence terrifies Cumilla residents

Over the past decade, at least seven people have been killed and over a hundred injured due to violence by teenage gangs in Cumilla city. Many gang members have also sustained injuries during fights among themselves.

Following recent political shifts in August, these teenage gangs have become even more reckless. Armed with machetes, rods, sticks, and even local firearms, they march in processions through city streets, spreading fear. In the last two months alone, there have been at least six such armed demonstrations, leaving residents deeply unsettled.

The latest incident occurred on Friday, January 4, when over a hundred teenagers marched from Tomchom Bridge to Nazrul Avenue, Rani Bazar, and toward Dharmapur. Simultaneously, the "Ratan Group" held a demonstration near Victoria Government College in the Ranir Dighi area. On December 27 last year, another gang carried out an armed rally in Barichagaon and Racecourse areas. These events forced residents to vacate the streets and brought traffic to a standstill.

Teenage gangs first emerged in Cumilla in 2015. Over the past decade, more than 25 groups have formed, each consisting of 40 to 200 members, primarily troubled teenagers and students. The largest gang, Royal Gang Star (RGS), has over 200 members, mostly 8th-grade students. Other significant gangs, such as "Eagle," "Modern School One," and "Modern School Two," operate alongside smaller groups like "WR," "RPS," "Racks," "XCMHS," "Ratan Group," and "LRN."

These gangs dominate neighborhoods like Nazrul Avenue, the stadium area, Eidgah, Nagar Udyan, New Market, SB Plaza, Victoria College Road, Dharmapur, and Ranir Dighi. They also thrive around educational institutions, with almost every school and college in the city hosting two or more gangs.

Gang members are frequently seen gathering in groups during the evening, with WhatsApp and Messenger being their primary communication tools.

Terrified residents claim that the gangs have established a reign of terror in nearly every neighborhood. Even minor disagreements often escalate into violence or murder. These teenagers are also involved in drug abuse, theft, and harassment. Many gang members ride motorcycles at high speeds, creating deafening noise to intimidate people, while some are notorious for teasing girls in public.

Locals believe these gangs have evolved from social media cliques into power-hungry groups willing to commit heinous crimes. With the backing of "seniors" or local political figures, these groups have become bold and reckless, treating everyone with disdain.

Parents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that gang members possess weapons such as knives, daggers, switchblades, cutters, hockey sticks, and even advanced firearms. These teenagers are often involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and territorial disputes.

Law enforcement officials, also speaking anonymously, acknowledged the alarming rise in gang-related crimes. These teenagers, dressed in T-shirts, jeans, sunglasses, and with trendy hairstyles, frequent alleys, streets, and marketplaces, blaring music and harassing people indiscriminately. They are also known for participating in illegal motorcycle and car races, often driving recklessly to create panic.

Several gruesome incidents involving teenage gangs have left residents horrified. Notable cases include the murders of Shahjada Islam, Shahriar Kabir Ontu, and Montahin Islam Miron, students from various educational institutions in Cumilla.

One particularly shocking case occurred on September 16, 2023, when eighth-grader Amin, a poor auto-rickshaw driver, was tied to a tree and killed during a planned robbery. On May 4, 2023, another teenager, Shuvo, was stabbed to death by a TikTok group near the Gomti River.

In another case on May 28, 2023, members of the RGS gang severely injured Naushad Kabir, a 10th-grade student, by cutting tendons in his hands and legs over a trivial dispute.

Other incidents include the murder of Faisal Islam on December 31, 2022, and the killing of Khairul Bashar, an official of a Chinese company, on April 30, 2021.

Cumilla Citizens' Forum President Kamrul Ahsan Babul remarked, "No one is born a criminal; their environment and circumstances make them so. Political protection and a lack of moral and religious education are major factors behind the rise of these gangs."

Ali Akbar Masum, CEO of the Rights Foundation, Cumilla, and former president of TIB's SANC, stressed the need for proactive law enforcement, saying, "If the authorities act decisively, eliminating these gangs won't be difficult."

Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohinul Islam acknowledged that political protection during the Awami League's tenure had allowed these gangs to form. “We are collecting footage and conducting operations to arrest those involved in recent armed rallies. No one will be spared,” he assured.