Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-13 arrested two presumed militants of Jama’atul Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB), including its divisional military wing commander, with several firearms and ammunition from Dinajpur on Wednesday night.
Commanding Officer of Rangpur RAB-13 Battalion Mozammel Haque disclosed the information at a press briefing in Dhaka today afternoon.
“A special operational team of the Militancy Cell of RAB-13 conducted separate raids at Railway Colony and Raniganj Guriapara areas of Dinajpur town and arrested the militants with firearms, ammunition, ‘jihadi’ books and leaflets,” Haque said.
The arrestees are Rangpur divisional military wing commander of JMB Rahat Hossain, 40, and Reazul Islam, 30.
The elite force seized three foreign pistols with four magazines and 32 rounds of live bullets, numerous provocative ‘jihadi’ books and leaflets and two mobile phone sets used for militant activities during the raids.
During primary interrogation, the suspects admitted that they had been absconding for 8/9 years, conducting organisational activities, colleting funds, purchasing firearms and planning for conducting subversive activities, BSS reported.
“The detainees also admitted that they had been inspiring innocent young people to join their team,” Haque said adding that efforts were on to collect information about other members of the outfit militant organisation.
The elite force handed over the arrested militants to Dinajpur Kotwali Police station on Thursday after filing separate cases against them under the Arms Act and Anti-terrorism Act.