4 JMB militants arrested in Khulna, Bagerhat

Law enforcers recovered bomb-making materials, booklets on militancy and leaflets during the frives.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Tuesday night arrested JMB cadre from Deana Dakkhinpara under Daulatpur thana of Khulna city.

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According to a press release issued by Rab yesterday, Md Ashrafuzzaman alias Babu,30, son of Md Afsar Ali confessed to his involvement in the August 17 serial bomb explosions. He disclosed names of other cadres of JMB hiding in Khulna city. He also gave important information about underground activities of the Islamist extremist groups, the press release said.

Rab, on the same night, also arrested the militant outfit's 'Bagerhat district coordinator' from Purbo-Bashabati area under Bagerhat Sadar thana. He was identified as Mohammod Solaiman,22, son of Abdus Samad of the same area. Rab arrested Solaiman from his shop at Darhatana intersection and recovered from there many books written on militancy and leaflets meant from inspiring youths to join JMB.

Rab quoted the arrestee as saying that his shop was so long used for keeping bomb-making materials, leaflets, faxed messages sent by JMB kingpin and written instructions and programmes of the outlawed militant organisation. He also disclosed names of other cadres hiding in Bagerhat district.

Twenty copies of monthly 'At-Thahrik' magazine, 29 copies of leaflets and a copy of the book "Ekti Shatyanishtha Daler Proyojon" were recovered from his possession, Rab said.

Bagerhat police on Tuesday arrested two more Islamic militants including a member of JMB suicide squad from Swarankhola upazila.

The arrestees were identified as Habibullah,22, and Masum Billah alias Belal, 17.

Police said Habibullah is an active member of JMB suicide squad and youngest brother of ATM Hemayetuddin, central joint secretary general of Islami Shasantantra Andalon.

He was arrested from a house of a retired police officer.

Habibullah confessed to police during interrogation that he took training as a member of suicide squad in a JMB camp in Dhaka. Police quoting him said yesterday that there are two more members of suicide squads in Bagerhat who are planning to go into action any time.

JMB cadre Belal alias Masum Billah,17, was arrested on Tuesday from Khontakata village under Swarankhola upazila of Bagerhat. He is son of Ibrahim Mir of the same village.

Police said Masum was earlier arrested from a mosque in Barguna district two years ago along with 36 others while taking training on militancy. But all of them were freed a day after arrest.