Bandarban’s Thanchi: Rab arrests 17 militants after daylong gunfight
Rapid Action Battalion arrested 17 members of newly formed militant outfit Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three members of Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) following a daylong gunfight in Bandarban's Thanchi upazila yesterday.
During the shootout in Remakri bridge area near Thanchi-Boromodak-Likkri link road, the Rab had to fire some 350 shots while the militants and KNF members shot about 200 bullets. The gunfight broke out around 5:00am and continued till 6:30pm, said a Rab official.
Eight to nine Rab members sustained minor injuries in the gunfight and were given first aid at hospitals, Rab Director General M Khurshid Hossain told a press briefing in Thanchi around 3:30pm.
Three to four of the arrestees were seen in the video that was recovered from Masukur Rahman alias Ronobir, military commander and shura member of Jama'atul Ansar, after his arrest on January 23 in Cox's Bazar along with an associate.
The eight-minute video shows militants being trained in modern fighting techniques, including operating assault rifles.
Khandaker Al Moin, director of the Rab's legal and media wing, said they seized firearms and materials used in making improvised explosive devices following the operation.
The Rab DG said on information that militants were again gathering in Thanchi and they would cross the Remakri bridge, six Rab patrol teams took position at different points in the area.
The gunfight ensued yesterday morning when the militants were crossing the bridge, said the Rab DG.
Disclosing the arrests of five militants at the briefing, Khurshid said they were taking time to conduct the operations as they wanted to capture the militants unharmed once their stock of bullets was finished.
The operation will continue until the militants are totally eliminated, he said, adding that the Rab arrested 38 militants and 14 members of an armed group in Chattogram Hill Tracts before yesterday's operation.
According to Rab officers, Jama'atul Ansar had planned to establish a caliphate in Bangladesh through an armed struggle, and if necessary, they would carry out attacks on key installations and important personalities.
To achieve their goals, the outfit recruited young men, took them to the hills, and made them go through rigorous combat training provided by the KNF, an armed group of the CHT. The KNF is also providing shelter and food to militants under a three-year deal, the officers added.
Jama'atul Ansar has 55 members trained in use of firearms, including assault rifles. Some of them have been arrested, officials said.
The Rab in a press statement yesterday said they seized huge local and foreign-made arms and ammo and Tk 7 lakh following the operation.