Security forces search Rajshahi pond for hidden weapons

NN Online:
Security forces are searching a pond in Rajshahi city’s Kadirganj for hidden weapons after seizing firearms and bomb-making materials from a coaching centre late Friday night.

The raid, carried out at “Doctor English”, led to the arrest of its owner, Muntasirul Alam Anindya, 35, along with two others. Anindya, son of former Rajshahi BNP vice-president Shafiul Alam Latkur and cousin of Awami League presidium member AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, was earlier detained over suspected links to militancy, including the 2016 Holey Artisan attack and the murder of RU professor Rezaul Karim Siddique.

According to the Army, the cache recovered included three firearms, locally made weapons, bomb-making materials, daggers, walkie-talkies, a military-grade GPS device, sniper scope, nitrogen cartridges, and computers, among other items. The bomb disposal unit later neutralised the nitrogen cartridges.

On Saturday, Rajshahi police confirmed that Fire Service divers had joined the search operation in the pond near Anindya’s residence to ensure no further weapons were concealed. Intelligence agencies have launched a parallel investigation.