RAB officer killed in Sitakunda gunfight
NN Desk :
A Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer has been killed and three others critically injured in a gunfight with “local criminals” in Jungle Salimpur of Chattogram’s Sitakunda.
The clash erupted on Monday afternoon during a RAB?7 operation in the area.
The deceased has been identified as Naik Subedar Abdul Motaleb, deputy assistant director of RAB?7.
Commander MZM Intekhab Chowdhury of RAB Headquarters’ Legal and Media Wing told bdnews24.com that RAB members came under sudden attack while conducting the raid.
Motaleb died in the assault, while three injured personnel were rushed to the Combined Military Hospital in Chattogram for treatment.
It may be mentioned that Jangal Salimpur covers an area of approximately 3,100 acres.
According to district administration sources, the market value of land in this area adjacent to the link road ranges from Tk 9 to 10 lakh per decimal. Based on this, the estimated value of the occupied government khas land is around Tk 30,000 crore.
This massive economic interest has long fueled clashes, killings, and terrorist activities in the area.
Following the political change in the country on August 5 last year, armed clashes over control of Jangal Salimpur intensified further.
Several killings occurred as a result, all linked to hill occupation and dominance. Most recently, one person was killed in a gunfight between two groups in the area.
The following day, two journalists were attacked by terrorists while collecting news there.
Previously, the administration has faced repeated attacks while conducting eviction drives and operations to stop hill cutting in Jangal Salimpur.
On September 14, 2023, at least 20 people—including an executive magistrate, a police station OC, and police personnel—were injured while returning from an eviction operation.
Similar attacks on RAB, police, and the Department of Environment also occurred multiple times in 2022.
Law enforcement officials said the geographical location of the area allows criminals to receive advance alerts through lookouts as soon as security force vehicles enter.
Subsequently, gunfire, cocktails, bricks, and stones are hurled from the hills, making it extremely difficult to control the situation through isolated operations.
Although there are plans to implement at least 11 major projects—including a prison and an IT park—on government khas land in Jangal Salimpur, none have progressed due to the failure to recover the land.