4 surrender at Ashulia ‘militant den’

  • 3 grenades hurled at law enforcers
  • Several gunshots heard
  • Smoke coming out of the house
  • Cops suspect 2 people inside
  • 20/30 houses in 4km adjacent area evacuated
  • Rab team enters the house at 9am
  • Chopper used to monitor situation

Four persons have surrendered to law enforcers who are conducting a raid at a suspected militant hideout in Ashulia of Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, since early today.

Law enforcers arrested the four males after they came out of the house one after another following law enforcers’ request over loud speakers, Abdul Hakim, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)-4 Nabinagar camp commander, told journalists around 1:00pm.

Their identity and any info on their involvement with militancy will be known after an interrogation, the Rab commander said.

The four persons do not bear any mark of physical injury, he added.

The members of Rab-4 and local police cordoned off the house in Chaurabari area of Nayarhat village, said Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) legal and media wing.

Earlier around 9:00am, a team of Rab and local police headed by Mufti Mahmud entered the house and asked the people inside the house to surrender.

One of the four men is arrested by members of Rapid Action Battalion during a raid at a suspected militant hideout in Ashulia of Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on Sunday, July 16, 2017. Photo: Akash Mahammud

Meanwhile, several rounds of fresh gunshots were heard around 11:30am, our Savar correspondent reports from the sport.

One of the four men is arrested by members of Rapid Action Battalion during a raid at a suspected militant hideout in Ashulia of Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on Sunday, July 16, 2017. Photo: Akash Mahammud

Before entering the single-floor house, Mufti Mahmud told journalists that at least three grenades were hurled from the house targeting the elite force members.

Suspected militant den in Ashulia of Savar

During the raid, smokes are seen coming out of a tin-shed single floor house which is suspected as a militant hideout in Ashulia of Savar. Photo: Akash Mahammud

At least 20 to 30 houses were evacuated from the four-kilometre area that have been cordoned off by the law enforcers since 1:00am, said the Rab official who along with his team reached the spot from Dhaka headquarters.

Suspected militant den in Ashulia of Savar

A road in the area has been closed by law enforcers during the raid at a suspected militant hideout. Photo: Akash Mahammud

Meanwhile, locals and journalists present at the spot heard several gunshots and also saw smoke coming out of the house.

Source: The Daily Star