Operation at Mirpur ‘militant’ hideout resumes

Law enforcers resumed their operation at the suspected militant hideout at Mirpur's Mazar Road on Wednesday morning after overnight massive explosions and exchange of gunfire.

Mufti Mahmud Khan, Rab Director (Legal and Media), said they resumed the operation formally around 9:30am.

However, the law enforcers are yet to enter the militant den, said Mufti, adding they will know the casualties after entering the den.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque visited the spot in the morning.

Fire fighters rushed to the spot as a fire broke out in the hideout after the militants commenced a daring counterattack of bomb explosions and gunfire against the law enforcers on Tuesday night.

Mufti Mahmud Khan said the militants carried out three massive explosions inside the building around 9:45pm on Tuesday followed by three more blasts which led to a fire, leaving four Rab men injured with splinters.

"It might be chemical firing," he said, adding that casualties could be known after entering the building once the fire is doused.

Col Anwar Latif Khan, Additional Director General (Ops) of Rab Headquarters, told UNB that the militants might have killed themselves detonating bombs which went off inside the militant den.

Witnesses said the sounds of least 5-6 explosions were heard from the den around 9:45pm followed by gunfire. The sounds of exchanging gunshots were heard after the explosions.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) said the militants agreed to surrender in the evening.

"Suspected militant Abdullah agreed to surrender along with his two wives, two children and two associates between 7:30 pm and 8pm," Mufti Mahmud told a press conference in front of the building in the evening.

He said they earlier asked Abdullah to surrender when he sought time for taking the decision. "We gave him time. Few minutes before the dusk fell, he informed us that he'll surrender along with his family members and associates," he said.

As per his commitment, Abdullah sent his wives and children to the balcony, Mufti added.

As part of the security arrangement, the law enforcers have already evacuated all the residents from the building and adjacent ones.

Earlier, Abdullah's mentally challenged sister Meherunnesa came out of the house.

Rab members cordoned off the house around 12 am on Tuesday suspecting it as a militant hideout.

Tipped off, a Rab team cordoned off the six-storey building on the south side of Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard, said Assistant Superintendent of Police Unu Mong, also operation officer of Rab-4.

Earlier, police arrested two suspected militants conducting a drive in Tangail district. The arrested militants gave information about Abdullah.

Locals also said that the building owned by Habibullah Bahar Azad has five flats on its each floor. The homeowner had been living on the 2nd floor.

In a press briefing, Rab Director General Benazir Ahmed said militant Abdullah got involved in militancy in 2005 and he had been carrying out his activities under the cover of his business of IPS, UPS, fridges and refrigerators. He deposited huge acid, petroleum and explosives, said the Rab DG.

Source: unb