Another 17 suspected militants detained

Staff Reporter :
Another 17 people have also been arrested by locals on suspicion of being members of the new militant organization ‘Imam Mahmud’s Khafela in Kulaura Upazila of Moulvibazar.

Locals claim that Sohel Tanjim, a doctor who escaped earlier from the militant hideout, is among them.

On Monday morning, local people detained some CNG-powered auto-rickshaws along with 17 unknown persons.

They have been kept in the local Union Parishad (UP) office, our district correspondent said.

According to sources, the group was heading from Askarabad to Kulaura when the autorickshaw drivers grew doubtful and detained them with the support of locals.

Afterwards, a police patrol team arrived and took them to the union council.

In this regard, local chairman Muhibul said that Imam Mahmud who is allegedly leading the group is among the detainees.

“The detainees have been detained in a big, locked room at the union council,” said Abdus Salek, Officer-in- Charge (OC) of Kalaura Police Station.

“A police team is at the location. More details will be released at a later time.”

A team from the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crimes unit has been dispatched to Kulaura after the incident was reported.

“We are on the way,” said Md Asaduzzaman, chief of the police unit.

“Once we get there, we will identify the people.”

Earlier on Saturday, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit raided a militant hideout in East Tatriuli area of the district.

10 people including Sohel Tanjim’s wife were arrested from there.

They had three children with them.