OPERATION STRIKE OUT AT Kotbari, COMILLA

‘2 militants escape’

Police seize grenades, suicide vests, IED from hideout

The three-day operation at a suspected militant den at Kotbari of Comilla codenamed ‘Operation Strike Out’ ended yesterday without any casualty or detention of any militant as police said the two militants inside the hideout managed to flee. The law enforcers, however, seized hand grenades, suicide vests and improvised explosive devices (IED) from the hideout. During a press conference after the operation, Shafiqur Rahman, deputy inspector general (DIG) of the Chittagong Range, told the media that there were two militants inside the building. “We are suspecting that the two --- Anas, alias Anis, and Rony --- were inside the building. Anas was able to flee by 10am on Wednesday, before the forces cordoned off the area. The other fled before 3:45pm when we start cordoning off the building," he said.
The DIG said members of the Neo-JMB have a certain strategy. When one of them goes out from a hideout, there is a standing instruction that he does not return within a certain time and then the other will leave the hideout.
“This has happened in Kotbari. First, one of them got out by 10am. Then the other left the building by 3:45pm. We arrived a bit late there.”
He said the militants have left a stash of hand grenades, suicide vests, improvised explosive devices (IED) inside the hideout. “We found two IEDs, each weighing five kilos, inside the building. The IEDs have similarities with the IEDs found at Sitakund,” he added.
Replying to a query, the DIG said they got information about the militants from the two militants arrested in Mirsarai. “They gave us information about the militant hideout at Sitakund.”
A SWAT team joined the law enforcers yesterday (Friday) morning to conduct the raid on the hideout in the Gondhomoti area, our correspondent reported, quoting inspector Sadiqur Rahman of Comilla Sadar police station.
The police surrounded the three-storeyed building since 4:30pm on Wednesday, suspecting that some militants were hiding there with explosives., said Abdullah Al Mamun, additional superintendent (South) of police in Comilla.
Earlier, all residents of adjacent houses were evacuated. The local administration also imposed Section 144 around the den.
Gunshots were heard twice shortly after 12-30pm when "Operation Strike Out" was in progress. Since then no
further gunshots were heard.   Around 10-30am, the DIG of Chittagong Range, Shafiqul Islam, said law enforcement agencies were ready to launch “Operation Strike Out”. Preparations had begun since 8am and the forces cordoned off the militant hideout, closing all roads leading to it.
 As part of it, Section 144 was clamped around the militant den at Gandhomati in the south Bagmara area of Coatbari of Comilla city, which would remain in force until further orders, the law enforcers said. An area of one km radius from the house where the militants were holed up was closed to public. Even media personnel were not allowed go further.
 People in and around the den were urged over the microphone to help the law enforcers and stay alert. Gas and electricity supplies were cut off in the area.
The operation remained on hold until the Comilla City Corporation polls ended on Thursday.  Since Wednesday afternoon, law enforcers had cordoned off the three-storied under construction house, west of the Boro Kabarsthan of the area, suspecting the militants were holed up with bombs and explosives on the ground floor. On one side of this house lives the family of a BGB member on rent. Some students of Comilla University live in a mess on the first floor.  The construction of the second floor has not yet been completed.
 Since the end of “Operation Twilight” at Atia Mahal in Sylhet to flush out militants there, the police were joined by SWAT and the Counter Terrorism unit of the police to launch “Operation Hit Back” in two dens of the militants in nearby Maulvibazar.  About seven to eight blown up bodies of militants, including children, were found at Nasirnagar on the outskirts of the district town.

OPERATION STRIKE OUT AT Kotbari, COMILLA

2 militants escape

Police seize grenades, suicide vests, IED from hideout

The three-day operation at a suspected militant den at Kotbari of Comilla codenamed Operation Strike Out ended yesterday without any casualty or detention of any militant as police said the two militants inside the hideout managed to flee. The law enforcers, however, seized hand grenades, suicide vests and improvised explosive devices (IED) from the hideout. During a press conference after the operation, Shafiqur Rahman, deputy inspector general (DIG) of the Chittagong Range, told the media that there were two militants inside the building. We are suspecting that the two --- Anas, alias Anis, and Rony --- were inside the building. Anas was able to flee by 10am on Wednesday, before the forces cordoned off the area. The other fled before 3:45pm when we start cordoning off the building, he said. The DIG said members of the Neo-JMB have a certain strategy. When one of them goes out from a hideout, there is a standing instruction that he does not return within a certain time and then the other will leave the hideout. This has happened in Kotbari. First, one of them got out by 10am. Then the other left the building by 3:45pm. We arrived a bit late there. He said the militants have left a stash of hand grenades, suicide vests, improvised explosive devices (IED) inside the hideout. We found two IEDs, each weighing five kilos, inside the building. The IEDs have similarities with the IEDs found at Sitakund, he added. Replying to a query, the DIG said they got information about the militants from the two militants arrested in Mirsarai. They gave us information about the militant hideout at Sitakund. A SWAT team joined the law enforcers yesterday (Friday) morning to conduct the raid on the hideout in the Gondhomoti area, our correspondent reported, quoting inspector Sadiqur Rahman of Comilla Sadar police station. The police surrounded the three-storeyed building since 4:30pm on Wednesday, suspecting that some militants were hiding there with explosives., said Abdullah Al Mamun, additional superintendent (South) of police in Comilla. Earlier, all residents of adjacent houses were evacuated. The local administration also imposed Section 144 around the den. Gunshots were heard twice shortly after 12-30pm when Operation Strike Out was in progress. Since then no further gunshots were heard. Around 10-30am, the DIG of Chittagong Range, Shafiqul Islam, said law enforcement agencies were ready to launch Operation Strike Out. Preparations had begun since 8am and the forces cordoned off the militant hideout, closing all roads leading to it. As part of it, Section 144 was clamped around the militant den at Gandhomati in the south Bagmara area of Coatbari of Comilla city, which would remain in force until further orders, the law enforcers said. An area of one km radius from the house where the militants were holed up was closed to public. Even media personnel were not allowed go further. People in and around the den were urged over the microphone to help the law enforcers and stay alert. Gas and electricity supplies were cut off in the area. The operation remained on hold until the Comilla City Corporation polls ended on Thursday. Since Wednesday afternoon, law enforcers had cordoned off the three-storied under construction house, west of the Boro Kabarsthan of the area, suspecting the militants were holed up with bombs and explosives on the ground floor. On one side of this house lives the family of a BGB member on rent. Some students of Comilla University live in a mess on the first floor. The construction of the second floor has not yet been completed. Since the end of Operation Twilight at Atia Mahal in Sylhet to flush out militants there, the police were joined by SWAT and the Counter Terrorism unit of the police to launch Operation Hit Back in two dens of the militants in nearby Maulvibazar. About seven to eight blown up bodies of militants, including children, were found at Nasirnagar on the outskirts of the district town.