-- Cops cordon off 2 'militant dens' in Sadar Upazila

-- Distance between the 2 spots 20km

-- People evacuated from areas

-- Section 144 imposed

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A SWAT team is carrying out an operation codenamed “Operation Hit Back” right now at a suspected militant den at a house in Nasirpur area of Moulvibazar Sadar upazila.

Sounds of heavy gunfire and explosion were heard from the spot around 6:30pm.

Meanwhile, militants hurled grenades at police at intervals from another hideout in Borohat area in the upazila. In retaliation, the law enforcers also fired gunshots targeting the den.

Also READ: 4 adults rented Nasirpur house with fake NIDs

Distance between the two spots is 20 kilometres. Locals said both the houses are owned by an expatriate. 

Local administration imposed Section 144 in nearby areas of Nasirpur and Borohat this afternoon to avoid any untoward incident.

Law enforcers with help of loudspeakers are instructing local resident to move to safety. Photo: Mintu Deshwara

READ more: Both houses owned by UK expat

Photo showing an empty road as section 144 is in effect in nearby areas of Nasirpur and Borohat in Moulvibazar Sadar upazila on March 29, 2017. Photo: Mintu Deshwara

Just the previous day, army commandos ended a five-day long operation codenamed “Operation Twilight” at Atia Mahal in Shibbari area of Sylhet that killed at least eight people including four militants and as many civilians and two lawmen.

Also READ: They were expert bomb makers

Nasirpur ‘den’

-- 'Operation Hit Back' by SWAT underway 

-- 8-9 militants inside suspected

-- Gunshots, explosion heard

Police cordoned off the suspected den early today.

The operation began around 6:15pm after the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team reached there, reports our staff correspondent from the spot.

“The operation is still going on amid rain in the area,” said Kamrul Ahsan, deputy inspector general (DIG) of Moulvibazar police around 9:00pm.

Sounds of heavy gunshots were heard from the area this evening, reports our correspondent. 

At least eight to nine suspected militants may have been inside the hideout in the single-storey house, said Mohibul Islam, deputy commissioner of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Police cordon off suspected militant den at a house in Nasirpur area of Moulvibazar Sadar upazila. Photo: Star

Law enforcers, using loudspeakers, requested the people, crowding the nearby area, to move to safer places.

Borohat ‘den’

-- Militants' hurl grenades at cops

-- Cops suspect 2-3 inside

-- Huge cache of arms, bombs suspected

-- House owner an expatriate living in UK

Law enforcers have cordoned off the suspected militant hideout since 10:30pm last night, said DIG Kamrul. 

Visiting the spot this afternoon, he told journalists that they are still not sure how much explosives are in the duplex building.

At least two to three militants may have been inside the hideout, according to CTTC official Mohibul.

Militants hurled grenades at police at intervals from the hideout. In retaliation, the law enforcers also fired gunshots targeting the den.

None was reported injured in the firing and blasts, police said.

The suspected militant hideout at Borohat area in Moulvibazar Sadar upazila. Photo: Star

The members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and fire service and civil defence were seen at the spot.

The house owner is Saifur Rahamn, an expatriate currently living in the UK for last 30 years. A caretaker is responsible to maintain the house, the correspondent reports quoting locals.