5 militant suspects arrested in 3 dists

Police arrested five alleged members of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in three districts yesterday.

Of the arrested persons, two were held in Rajshahi, two in Pabna and one in Mymensingh.

In Rajshahi, police arrested Abu Jafar, 40, in Dighirpara area of Nawhata municipality in Poba upazila at 2:00pm, said Parimal Kumar Chakrawarty, officer-in-charge of Poba Police Station.

Earlier, Jafar was arrested on July 19, 2005, when the police had busted a secret den of JMB in Puthipara area of the upazila. Later, he was released from jail on bail. The case against him is now under trial, said the OC.

In Bagmara upazila of the district, police arrested Abul Khair, 45, at his home in Kuddapara village in the early hours. Khair, who joined JMB in 2014, was engaged in regrouping the militants.

In another incident, Senior Judicial Conginsance Court Judge Saiful Islam placed each of the five JMB militants, who were arrested by the police in Bagmara on March 11, on a two-day remand.

They are Abdus Sattar, 33, Abdul Mannan, 35, Abul Hossain, 55, of Chandropur village; Lutfar Rahman, 38, of Udpara; and Rohidul Islam, 43, of Bhobaniganj village, said Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Asaduzzaman of Bagmara Police Station.

In Pabna, police arrested Shafiqul Islam, 30, of Radhanagar-Mkhtobpara, and Ziaul Karim Sujon, 32, of Narayanpur.

They were arrested around 5:00am, said Abdur Razzak, OC of Pabna Sadar Police Station, adding that the duo were the listed JMB operatives.

They were accused in three cases filed with the police station for their alleged involvement in regrouping the banned Islamist outfit.

They were earlier arrested in connection with militant activities, but were freed from jail two years ago.

Meanwhile, police arrested another suspected JMB activist in Jhalubazar road area in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh early yesterday.

The arrestee is Md Shahid, 26, son of Abdur Sattar of Habirbari area in Bhaluka upazila.

On information, law enforcers raided the area and arrested Shahid while he along with others were holding a meeting in the area, said Mamun-or-Rashid, officer-in-charge of Bhaluka Police Station.

The other members, however, could not be arrested as they fled the scene sensing the presence of the law enforcers.

After interrogation, the arrestee was produced before a Mymensingh court. He was later sent to jail, said Md Hazrat Ali, officer-in-charge (investigation).