Three bodies were found during a drive in a suspected militant den conducted by members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Char Alatuli village of Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila early Tuesday.
Mufti Mahmud, director of RAB (Media wing) said that on secret information a team of RAB cordoned off the abandoned house owned by Rashikul Islam at the village from 4:00am.
When the RAB members asked the militants to surrender, they opened fire and hurled grenade to the elite forces which prompted them to retaliate back, news agency UNB reports.
A fire broke out at the tin-and-bamboo structure around 5:00am after a firefight and explosions, said Rajshahi RAB-5 Commanding Officer Lt Col Mahabub Alam.
The bodies of three men were found by a bomb disposal unit among the debris after the fire died out.
Two pistols, three grenades, eight detonates, and various bomb-making materials were recovered from inside, citing RAB Media Wing Director Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan.
Meanwhile, the elite force detained house owner Rashikul, his wife Nazma, and father-in-law Khorshed Alam from Sabdipur area in Godagari upazila under Rajshahi district for interrogation.
Local sources said Rashikul Islam, who has been suffering from cancer, did not stay in the house for long time. They also heard the sound of bullets and explosions around 4:30am and saw flames in the house.
