'Gunshots heard as police cordon off militant hideout'

Gunshots have been heard after the police cordoned off a building at Mobarakpur union in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj, suspecting it to be a militant hideout.

Local people said they have heard of several gunshots around 11:00am on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the local upazila administration imposed Section 144 in the area.

According to witnesses, police cordoned off the building after detaining two men, Mahfuzur Rahman and Abdus Salam, from the Trimohoni Shibnagar area of the union. However, police did not comment on this claim.

Shibganj police officer-in-charge Habibul Islam said gunshots were fired at the police from the house. The suspected militants have been asked to surrender to the police.

One official of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of police, who is present at the spot, said one Saidur Rahman is owner of the building. It has been known that a man named Abu, aged around 30, lives in the house with his children and wife, the official added.

CTTC official also said once it has been cordoned off, gunshots were fired at the police. Police then fired back, he said.

Residents around the houses were removed as the police asked through hand mike to surrender the militants.

Source: Prothom Alo