Police raid another den of militants

Law enforcers discovered another hideout of the new militant group "Imam Mahmuder Kafela" in the hills of Karmadha union of Moulvibazar's Kulaura yesterday.

They recovered approximately five kilograms of explosives and 14 bullets from the hideout.

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, along with the bomb disposal unit, conducted a four-hour-long drive since yesterday noon. Around 60 police officials from the Kulaura Police Station also took part in the drive, sources said.

On Monday, the CTTC initiated a drive and took into custody 17 suspects who were apprehended by locals as they were trying to flee the area on five three-wheelers.

While briefing the media, CTTC chief Md Asaduzzaman said they found three houses in the hideout. "The 17 suspects were living in these houses. The explosives were concealed underground in one of the houses."

The CTTC disclosed the identities of the suspects yesterday.

Abdul Ahad Mendi, who called himself "Imam Mahmud," was among the arrestees, according to the CTTC chief.

Asaduzzaman said, "Through our initial interrogations we learnt that many of them played significant roles in the outfit."

He said the suspects had cleared the land around the hideout and had planned to build more structures and houses. The hideout was supposed to serve as a hub for their operational activities, he said.

Asaduzzaman said they also found Tk 2 lakh cash and 96 detonators inside a travel bag. "Some of the detonators were wired."

The CTTC chief said, "We have got some important clues after interrogating the arrestees. We will interrogate them more after putting them face to face with suspects previously detained."

SM Nazmul Haque, deputy commissioner of the CTTC, said the outfit used to receive funds from Middle Eastern countries. "One of the arrestees, Jamil, once lived in Oman. Jamil had good relations with Qatar expatriate Rashid Ali, who hails from Kulaura. Jamil used the relationship to buy 50 decimal of land in the area and then built hideout," said Nazmul.

Earlier this month, the CTTC arrested 21 members of the outfit. The suspects had 11 children with them.