Operation ‘Sun Devil’ at Rajshahi ‘militant den’ ends

The operation codenamed “Sun Devil” at the suspected militant den in Godagari Upazila of Rajshahi ended this morning.

Bomb disposal unit recovered 11 bombs, one pistol, two rounds of bullets and a magazine from the house, said Sumit Chowdhury, additional superintendent of police in Rajshahi.

The bombs were disposed of around 9:30am, he added.

Last reported police were collecting evidence from the scene.

The operation was resumed around 9:00am, reports our correspondent in Rajshahi.

Earlier, five suspected militants including two women and a firefighter were killed during the raid at the suspected militant hideout that began in the wee hours yesterday.

The deceased Sajjad Ali, 50, his wife Beli, 40, their sons Al Amin, 30, and Soyaiyad, 25, and their daughter Karima, 28, were active activists of Jamaat politics, according to locals.

The deceased Abdul Matin was a fireman.

Besides, Sumaiya her children Jubayer, 8, and one and half years old Suraiya have been kept under police custody.

Sajjad Ali had begun residing in the one-storey tin-shed house, surrounded by water bodies in Benipur area of Habajpur, about a month ago.

He is said to be the father-in-law of one Jahurul, a militant already under police custody.

According to the description of OC Munshi, police cordoned the house off since 9:00pm last night. The operation began around 3:00am early today. Police repeatedly told them to surrender.

Around 8:00am this morning, some of the "militants" came out of the house and stabbed a fireman who was engaged in spraying the house with water to hydrate any explosives.

One of the assailants was said to have been wearing suicide vest.

Police shot them all down, and a bit later, around 10:00am, rescued Sumaiya and her children a few yards away from the house. Some policemen were said to have been injured during the encounter.

The firefighter was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where he later succumbed.

Source: thedailystar