In a five-hour operation, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) yesterday busted a den of the banned militant Islamic outfit, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), and detained five of its members along with arms and ammunition from Phartali area under Akbar Shah police station. The drive was conducted from 6am to 11am.
The RAB also recovered two pistols, eight bombs, explosives, 167 rounds of ammunition and 10 jihadi books. Earlier, on Wednesday night, the RAB detained two members of the HuJI along with arms from the city’s AK Khan intersection area. Obtaining information from the duo, the RAB conducted a drive at the first floor of a two-storied that was under construction house and detained three members of the HuJI along with arms and ammunition, said Miftah Uddin Ahmed, chief of RAB-7.
Taijul Islam and Nazim Uddin were detained from AK Khan intersection area and Md Hafez Abu Zafar Gifari, Nur-e-Alam, and Ibtisham Ahmed were held from the den. “All the detainees are followers of HuJI chief Mufti Mainul Islam,” said Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of RAB’s media wing, at a press briefing after completing the drive.
Taijul Islam and Nazim Uddin were detained from AK Khan intersection area around 6am. After finding the door of the house locked from inside, the RAB cordoned off the house. Sensing trouble, the militants set fire to their documents and electronic devices like laptops and mobiles. As the militants did not heed the RAB’s call to come out of the house, a bomb disposal team entered the house after breaking open the door, said Mufti Mahmud Khan.
The militants rented the house on December 1. They told the landlord that their family would join them soon. Neighbours, however, said they did not know anything about the house inmates. Jashim Uddin, a neighbour, said, “Those living in the house usually return home at night.”
A Hazi Mansur Ahmed, the house-owner who lives in another house, disappeared soon after the house was raided.
It was suspected the militants had chalked out a huge sabotage plan, including attacks on different installations of law enforcement agencies. They had also planned to loot weapons and snatch their top leaders who are in prison, disclosed Mufti Mahmud Khan.