Six ‘Allahr Dal members’ held in Gaibandha

Banned militant outfit Allahr Dal had been actively recruiting members in Gaibandha, “giving invitations” to 1,500 people including 500 women over three years, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) said yesterday.

Of them, over 100 have taken oath to work for them, the elite force claimed after the  arrest of six suspected members of the group from the district.

The arrestees were identified as Babul Khandakar (35), Atoar Hossain (67), Osman Gani (56), Abdul Aziz alias Babu (39), Hossain Prodhan (35), and Abu Taher Prodhan (50).

A special team of Rab-2 conducted drives in the district’s Harinmari area under Palashbari Police Station, said Muhammad Mohiuddin Faruqe, superintendent of police of Rab-2.

The elite force seized extremist books, leaflets and cell phones from their possession.

The arrestees joined the outfit activities in 2015 and they have already completed the target of inviting 1,500 people in 2015, 2016 and 2017 to work for them, said Faruqe, quoting documents and lists they received from the arrestees.

“We are now trying to get their invitation list for the year of 2018 and 2019,” said the SP.

In primary interrogation, the arrestees said that they do not believe in inviting people on online platforms. They visit people’s houses and invite people in person to work for them, he said.

The arrestees also said that they are followers of their Aamir Motin Mehedi, who is now in jail. They joined the outfit after getting invitation from Aziz, an additional nayek of the outfit -- now also in jail, said SP Faruqe, who led the drive.  They collected zakat from members of the group, but spent it for the welfare of their members.

“Locals destroyed the house of arrestee Osman in 2016 for his militant activities, but the outfit supported him financially to rebuild it,” said Faruqe.

A case was filed against the arrestees with Palashbari Police Station. “We are now conducting drives to arrest the absconding members of the unit,” he added.