Firearms, ammo recovered from Moheshkhali
The Rapid Action Battalion in a drive recovered firearms, arms-making materials and ammunition in Cox's Bazar's Moheshkhali yesterday.
Two alleged criminals were also arrested during the raid in a forest in Pahartali village of Baro Moheshkhali union.
Twenty-one firearms, a locally-made pistol and 22 bullets were recovered in the drive that began around 9:30am and continued until 1:30pm. One drill machine, three arms-making pipes, 15 hacksaw blades and two pairs of pliers, among other things, were also recovered, Rab said.
The arrestees are Abdul Mabud, 40, and Abu Taher, 42, from Moheshkhali. Rab claimed that the two were firearm makers.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of Rab-7 surrounded the forest, recovered the firearms and arrested Mabud and Taher. Other criminals, however, managed to flee, said Lt Ashequr Rahman, company commander of Rab, Cox's Bazar camp.
He claimed that Mabud, who is an expert in making firearms, was arrested at an illegal arms-manufacturing factory during a drive in 2006.
Mabud served four years in jail but got involved in making arms again after his release, the Rab official said.
Ashequr said filing of a case with Moheshkhali Police Station over yesterday's incident was underway.
He said the arrestees were being quizzed and that they hope to glean more information and identify other members of the gang.
Rab and local sources said an organised gang had set up firearm-making factories deep inside the forest of Pahartali, and had been selling those to criminals, local robbers and Rohingyas. Law enforcement agencies frequently conduct drives there.
On April 11, 2015, police raided Baro Kulalpara in Baro Moheshkhali and recovered firearms and arms-making equipment. Two people -- Maqbul Ahmed and his wife Nasima Akhter -- were arrested during the drive, according to sources in Rab and police.
Rab in a drive in the same area on June 9 last year recovered eight locally-made guns and 15 bullets. One Jalal Uddin, who according to Rab is an expert in manufacturing arms, was arrested then.
On June 13 last year, police in a drive at Uttar Jhapua in Kalarmarchhara union arrested Sarwar Kamal and recovered a gun and arms-making equipment from him. Sarwar was accused in murder and bank robbery cases.
On September 9, Rab in a raid at Keruntoli arrested Shahjahan, who stood accused in 11 cases. Seven locally-made firearms were recovered from his possession.
In a drive at Panirchhara on October 10, police arrested Abu Taleb, an alleged expert in making firearms, and recovered a locally-made gun and arms-making materials from his possession.
Comments