Youth gangs have become reckless again in the metropolis. From school-college students to common people are in fear of their violent activities. Public beatings, robberies, assaults and intimidation are raising concerns across the city.
Locals complain that these juvenile gang members who have formed in different areas are involved in organized crime, but effective control is not seen. As a result, every day violent activities are happening somewhere in the metropolis. The residents of the city have expressed concern over the recent incident and demanded that those involved be identified and brought under the law.
Last on May 19, around 3 pm, a juvenile gang of 5 to 6 people called a student of class VII during the school holidays of the city’s Rajshahi Court Academy.
Eyewitnesses said that although students and common people were present in front of the school, no one came forward fearing the attackers. The student was brutally tortured in public.
At that time, Abdur Rashid, joint convener of Ward No. 5 volunteers of the city, was present at the scene. When he tried to protect the tortured student, the youth gang members also attacked him. He was also beaten.
Locals claim that juvenile gang members are dominating the area by creating groups based on social media. It is also alleged that many are getting involved in these activities with the help of political umbrellas and elder brothers. Their activity is seen especially in the areas adjacent to educational institutions, C&DB road, Padmapar, zoo, Bhadra Park and Lake, Biman Chatwar road, flyover area.
Earlier, there have been allegations of assault, robbery, drug use and extortion against youth gangs in Rajshahi. The residents of the city complained that despite the names of hundreds of youth gang members appearing in the list of policemen, their violence has not decreased in practice.