Police stations in Khulna division on 'high alert'

According to police sources, outlaws are preparing for reprisal following the crossfire death of Shoiab alias Ripon Ahmed, 'operation commander' of Janajuddho faction of outlawed PBCP (Purba Banglar Communist Party).

The sources did not rule out the possibility of attacks also by Islamist extremists on key installations, police stations, journalists and political leaders to avenge the arrest of Dr Masud bin Ishaque, Farhad Hossain Bulbul, Abdur Rahim Safafi and 16 others in the recent crackdown in Khulna and Bagerhat districts.

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These arrestees identified themselves to police as leaders and activists of JMB (Jamaatul Mujahidin, Bangladesh), JMJB (Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh), Jamaatul Moslemin and Ahle Hadith Andolan, Bangladesh.

Most of them confessed to police, but not to court, why and how they carried out the serial bomb blasts on August 17.

Quoting from their confessional statements, Khulna Range DIG Noor Mohammod said that operatives of PBCP Janajuddho had connivance with Islamist extremists in the August 17 bomb blasts in the south Western region.

Security blanket has also been thrown in some particular places in Khulna division and in the city to nab PBCP (Janajuddho) founder Dada Tapan, Shoiab's younger brother Shumon and leader of Harkatul Jihad Mufti Abdul Hannan who are reportedly moving in guise, police sources said.

Meanwhile, neither police nor Rab could detect the owner of the private car which carried Shoiab and his two associates, reportedly from Dhaka Sunday night. The law enforcers have launched a manhunt for the two associated of Shoaib.

Besides, there has not been any progress in investigation in the case filed with Rupsha thana on Monday under the Arms Act against Kamrul and Shumon, elder and younger brothers respectively of Shoaib.

According to another source, search is also on to identify those who used to pay toll to Shoiab every month.

"From Shoiab's SIM cards we have identified the persons who maintained contact with him", said a highly placed source in Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP).

Sources also claimed that many armed cadres of Janajuddho have entered Khulna city and upazilas of Khulna district to find out the persons who accompanied Shoiab in the private car as PBCP leaders believe that one of the two 'missing cadres' acted as Rab source to help them arrest Shoiab.