The party has become very active in doping and robbing passengers of their belongings at Sayedabad, Gabtoli and Mohakhali inter-district bus terminals, Kamalapur railway station and Sadarghat launch terminal.

They are also active in bus stoppages. "Who knows may be next time when you travel by a CNG three-wheeler or a taxicab or take a bus, might fall prey to the gang," said Ashraful Haq, a Mohammapur resident who became a target of the notorious criminals last month. He was treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

Ashraful said as he waited at Gabtoli terminal for a Lalmonirhat-bound bus he met a young man who offered him cold drinks after a little chat. He cannot recall what happened after being entertained and found himself lying at the DMCH.

Mamun Rahman, a university student, was also trapped by the party last week.

He was returning to his dorm on the university campus by a CNG autorickshaw from Rampura. As the vehicle stopped at Matsya Bhaban intersection a gang of three suddenly boarded the autorickshaw and took away his belongings.

"One of them put his hand over my mouth while the others started to punch me. That was the last scene I can remember. When I gained my sense, I found myself lying in a bed at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital," Mamun said.

On average, 50 people, mostly bus passengers, in the city are drugged by the Aggyan party a day, police said. "They fall prey while they are in the vehicles and terminals," said an on-duty police officer at Gabtoli bus terminal.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) sources said the number of these incidents has recently gone up. Commissioner SM Mizanur Rahman told Star City that the police department is also aware of the incidents and they have taken measures to curb the crime.

"First of all we have to create awareness among the common people so that they do not take food or drink from unknown people," said the commissioner.

The victims, most of them are from low-income group such as rickshawpullers who accept food from unknown person easily, and even a journey from Mirpur to

Gulistan could make somebody a target of the gang.

But passengers waiting at terminals blame the police for the ever-increasing doping and robbing incidents. Many said the policemen are aware of the incidents but remain inactive as they get share of the looted money.

"Criminals active in all bus stations are known to the police but they turn blind eyes into this crime. Every day we find people are being made senseless and robbed," said Rafiq, a bus company staff who has been working at Gabtoli for the last seven years.

Police officers denied the allegation and blamed passengers, CNG or taxi cab drivers for the incidents. "People should be aware of taking food from unknown persons. We do not understand why do they take food from people unknown to them," said a duty officer at Tejgaon Police Station asking not to be named.

"Criminals make people unconscious and take away their belongings with the help of autorickshaw drivers and cabbies," he added.

Some commuters also dubbed CNG drivers as criminals. "All of a sudden the driver stops his vehicle on a deserted or unlit road pretending that the engine needs fixing. Then the miscreants appear and disappear in the same vehicle after robbing the passenger of his belongings," said a victim.

But CNG and taxicab drivers said they also fall prey to the gang quite often. Around 10 CNG autorickshaws are hijacked by the criminals a day, said a DMP official. Drivers said miscreants offer drinks or food to them and take over their vehicles.

"This is why we do not go everywhere. We cannot move on the streets safely. Some times criminals use women as decoys to hijack our vehicles," said Abdul Baten, an auto-rickshaw driver in Mirpur. He said that it takes around Tk 60,000 to Tk 70,000 to get an

autorickshaw back from the criminals' gang.

Sources at the DMCH said the hospital gives treatment to 25 to 30 people who are cheated by the Aggyan party a day in the city.

For treatment of these patients there is a special ward in the hospital, but sometimes it can not accommodate all the patients. "Sometimes the number is so high that they are sent to other wards," said an on-duty doctor.

DMCH sources said more than 600 victims were given treatment in July at DMCH. Police officials estimate the number at more than a thousand per month.

Moshiul Alam, a duty doctor at the emergency ward of DMCH, said they receive on average 10 cases during the daytime and the number increases at night.

"They use chloroform and sometimes inject morphine and pethidine into the body to make people unconscious," said the doctor. "The miscreants also use thorn apple (dhutra) powder. As the powder has no taste, colour or smell, it is very easy to use."

"A small dose is enough to make a person senseless for 5 to 10 minutes," he added.

The criminals put poisonous substances in cigarettes, betel leaves and tea to offer to their preys. Some of them also throw chilli powder and rub hazardous pastes into the eyes of the passengers. Most of the time victims are released after receiving primary treatment but in few cases they have to stay at hospital for long.