8 JMB men among 24 outlaws held in Rajshahi

Friday, April 10, 2009

Police captured eight outlawed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants and 16 underground operatives of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) during a ten-hour special drive in Bagmara upazila yesterday.

Led by Additional Police Superintendent Abdul Kuddus Chowdhury of Rajshahi, police in eight groups conducted the drive in Taherpur municipality, five unions of Bagmara and surrounding villages of Puthia and Durgapur upazilas.

"Our drive was aimed at improving law and order in the area", Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

He said the operatives of JMB and PBCP had been regrouping in Bagmara since the general elections and holding several secret meetings. "Most of the arrestees are suspected to have taken part in the meetings," he added.

The police and locals of Bagmara said PBCP had been preparing for retaliation against JMB killings and tortures in 2004 while JMB to arrests and executions of JMB men in later years.

The arrestees include JMB commander Fazal Haque, 48, and PBCP regional commanders Amzad Hossain, 60, Delbor Rahman, 32 and Sazzad Hossain, 20.

Other JMB militants are Abdul Jalil, 32, Razikul Islam Rocket, 35, and Hafijur Rahman, 25, Afsar Ali, 50, Moazzem Hossain, 18, Habibur Rahman, 65 and Yaad Ali, 45.

Among others, Abul Hosain, 40 of Baruihati is a listed PBCP operatives while suspected PBCP members Rafiqul Islam of Kalupara was crippled in JMB torture and Shafikul Islam, 29, formerly a journalist, was threatened to death by executed JMB leader Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai.

Other PBCP men are Abdur Razzak, 36, Abdul Jabbar, 55, Misir Ali, 55, Ahad Ali, 50, Uzzal, 23, Shahjahan Ali, 22, Shamsul Haque, 47, Taiyubur Rahman, 19, Abdur Rouf, 20 and Moslem Uddin, 35.

The police said the arrestees would be sent to court today after a brief interrogation and further investigation into their previous records and convictions.

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