Woman, child brought out of Chapainawabganj ‘militant den’

Law enforcers brought an injured woman and a child out of the suspected militant den in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj this afternoon.

The injured woman was brought out of the one-storey house at Shibnagar around 5:00pm, TM Mujahidul Islam, superintendent of police (Chapainawabganj) told our local correspondent.

Around half an hour later a child was brought out of the “militant hideout”, our correspondent reports from the spot.

Four alleged militants along with two minor children were believed to be holed up inside the house, said SP Mujahidul.

Meanwhile, a bomb disposal unit from Dhaka reached the spot around 11:15am, the correspondent reports from the spot. Earlier, a huge blast and sporadic gunshots were heard near the suspected militant den.

The blast was heard around 11:06am, he said.

Media personnel, stationed about 500 yards away from the spot, have been hearing the gunshots since 9:00am, the correspondent reports.

Police last night suspended the raid on the one-storey house due to darkness and told media that the operation will resume in the morning.

Investigators believe the four include multiple mid-level leaders of “Neo JMB,” a terrorist group police claim was responsible for last year's deadly Gulshan attack.

Yesterday, a team of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) was airlifted from the capital, which launched the operation codenamed “Eagle Hunt” in the evening.

Heavy sounds of gunshots and explosions were heard near the house till the last evening but no law enforcers were hurt.

The local administration imposed restrictions on gathering of people "Section 144" in the area yesterday.

Source: thedailystar