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Download PDF The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested nine suspected militants with a huge number of grenades, firearms and explosives in different districts in last two days.
Of those netted, two took part in staging the August 21 grenade blasts at an Awami League (AL) rally in 2004 while the rest were involved indirectly, said Rab officials.
The firearms and explosives seized include 16 Arges-84 grenades, four firearms and 60 kilograms of explosives. Rab officials said the grenades are from the same lot that had been smuggled in for the August 21 attack.
Hossain Ahmed alias Tamim, Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul, Jahangir Alam, Abdul Kuddus, Omar Faruq, Amirul Islam, Ali Ahmed, Mokaddes Billah and Mohammad Baki Billah are among the arrestees.
The crime busters however did not disclose the names and details of the two who they suspect had a direct role in the grisly attack that left 24 AL leaders and workers dead and over 300 injured.
All those detained were paraded during a press briefing at the Rab headquarters yesterday afternoon. But only three of them–Ali Ahmed, Tamim and Baki Billah–were allowed to talk to the media.
Harkat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (Huji) leaders Mufti Abdul Hannan, Mohibullah alias Mafizur Rahman alias Ovi, Moulana Abu Sayeed alias Zafar and Sharif Shahedul Alam alias Bipul, who are now on a 10-day remand in connection with the grenade blast case, were also produced before the journalists.
Hannan looked dejected all along the press briefing.
Rab Director General Hasan Mahmood Khandkar said the arrests and seizures would help investigators a lot to submit a charge sheet in the case. After primary interrogation, the arrestees would be handed over to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that has been tasked with investigation.
Rab officials said they had raided five places in Dhaka, Kushtia, Jhenidah, Khulna and Narsingdi simultaneously following up leads obtained from prime accused Mufti Hannan and the other three.
The intelligence gathered over the last two years also helped to hunt down the nine and seize the grenades and other explosives. The raids were conducted in the 24 hours ending at 6 in the morning yesterday.
The crime busters first captured Hussain Ahmed Tamim with a grenade from Narsingdi. Meantime at Hatgopalpur of Jhenidah, another Rab team recovered 15 other grenades from under the floor of Ali Ahmed’s house.
In another raid in Mohammadpur upazila of Magura, Rab arrested Baki Billah and recovered two Chinese rifles, one pistol, one revolver and around 60 kgs of explosives. Rab officials said that Mufti Hannan had asked Baki to take care of the firearms and explosives.
The rest were arrested in Khulna and Dhaka.
One litre of Nitrobenzene, two kg Sodium Chloride and 2.5 kg methanol, 300 ml acetone, 400gm sodium nitrate, 50 ml sulphuric acid, 200gm potassium dichloride, 10 gm sulphur, 200 ml nitrobenzol, 12kg ammonium nitrate, 100 gm aluminium powder and different other chemicals are among the explosives recovered.
The seized items also include three wrist watch bombs, 18 switches, two capacitors, 14 bulbs, a pair of military uniforms, one military belt, a pair of military boot and a cap, 22 detonator casings, six improvised bombs, one walkie-talkie set, one pen bomb, 12 bomb casings and seven pipe bomb casings.
Ali Ahmed who along with two others was allowed to speak said Mufti Hannan’s men had asked him to keep the grenades. He claimed he has no links with Huji, JMB or any other organisation.
Tamim denied that Rab had recovered any grenade from his possession.
Asked if the Huji leaders and activists in detention have said anything about the motive for the grenade attack, a top Rab official wishing not to be quoted said Hannan has admitted to carrying out the attack.
He also said that 15 people in all participated in conducting the blasts.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:33 am
Render peace in Bangladesh,The way unrestful leaders seeking Vengence against Each other they are inviting more Killings in the Country.
How stubborn people displayed a bearded person
hanging from the Air. It is an Insult to all religious Muslims.If leaders want to bring Jamati people to Criminal courts, Call a Refenrendum & let the country decide if Majority is in favour or you are some unwise are calling for destruction in the country.
So Wise people stay away from ruining the country again through further chaos.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:01 am
I do not know how old are you, MR.B. Ahmed? But
I dont think we need 2nd refenrendum to punish the
Criminals! I have seen,I have joined,I have fought
Against these Criminals in 1971 to save our country
BANGLADESH!!! If you think it an insult to MUSLIMS! I dont know which religion you are talking
About? You mean to say ISLAM does not punish the
Peoples Who rapes,Who kills innocent and collaborates with the enemy!!!
Your intention may be good but not good enough!
I may forgive Pakistan , but I cant forget!!!