7, including union chairman, arrested in Hatia during 'Devil Hunt'

On the first day of Operation 'Devil Hunt,' a joint force conducted a raid in Hatia sub-district of Noakhali and arrested seven people last night, including a former union council chairman.

The accused will be produced before the court around noon today.

They were arrested in raids at various locations in Hatia, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Hatia Police Station, AKM Ajmal Huda told The Daily Star.

The arrestees are Alauddin Azad, 64, former chairman of Char Ishwar Union in Hatia upazila and president of the Union Awami League, Saddam Hossain, 26, Abul Kalam Bitu, 44, Azim Uddin, 31, Sirajul Islam Prakash Rakchan, 24, Abdul Majed Palash, 43, and Abdul Zaher, 39— who are all members of Awami League.

OC Huda said that members of the navy, coast guard, naval police, and Hatia Police Station conducted the joint operation, arresting Azad from Ward 2 of Ochkhali Puratan Bazar.

The forces conducted more raids at various locations later which led to the arrest of six more individuals, he added.

Eight indigenous weapons were recovered during the operation, including a sharp knife with a plastic handle, a sharp axe, two sharp knives with wooden handles, and three long swords.

OC Huda said that this was the first operation under 'Devil Hunt' since its announcement by the home ministry.

Joint operations involving the navy, coast guard, naval police, and local police are ongoing, he also said.

He said eight weapons were recovered from Azim and Bitu. The coast guard has filed a case against them as the plaintiff in this incident.

The remaining five are implicated in cases related to attacks on students and the public during the August 5 movement.