JMB regrouping in Gaibandha
Police on hunt for seven leaders who often visit areas
Militants of banned Islamist outfit Jammatul Mujahideen, Bangladesh (JMB) are regrouping in remote areas of Shaghata upazila.
Local people complained that many JMB leaders who went into hiding after proclamation of emergency are often visiting remote villages including Akanderpara, Jumarbari, Haldia, Barokona, Jangalia and Basantherpara in Shaghata upazila.
They are inviting people to join JMB and trying to motivate innocent villagers in the name of Jihad to establis 'Islamic rule' in the country.
The JMB cadres also are collecting tolls on the plea of establishing Islamic rules through Jihad.
Talking to this correspondent during several visits to the area recently, some said the militants call him Kawfir if any body declines to listen to them.
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)-5 (Joypurhar) unit in a drive arrested two Ehsar members of JMB Wazed Ali and Abdur Rob from Bashanterpara village on Novermber 11.
Rab sources said the arrestees told them that Islamist militants are working in different remote areas including Bashanterpara, where some senior members have been assigned to collect tolls and recruit members.
Bashanterpara was JMB den before arrest of JMB kingpin Abdur Rahman and second-in-command Siddiqul Islam (Bangla Bhai). After arrest of top leaders, the local leaders fled away from the area but are regrouping again in different areas of Shaghata upazila.
Rab also arrested woman JMB member Ambia Begum, 50, on December 23 from her house at Jangalia village in the upazila and recovered huge quantities of Jihadi books and leaflets. Her three sons -- Anas,26, Mukul,23, and Bulbul, 20 -- are also activists of JMB. But they managed to flee during the raid.
Acting on a tip-off, Gaibandha Sadar police on October 28 arrested six militants including its leader Manjil Hossain, 55, of banned Islamist outfit Allaher Dal while they were holding a meeting at Kachuer Khamar village in the Sader upazila.
Police also recovered Jihadi books and papers from the spot.
All the six militants confessed to police that they were active members of Allahar Dal, led by Matin Mehdi. Allar dal is an outfit of JMB.
Matin Mehdi was sentenced to death for militant activities. Police said, they gathered in the house of Manjil Hossain for a regular meeting, held almost every day.
Local commander of Allahar Dal Manjil Hossain, earlier arrested by police, was released on bail.
Allaher Dal chief Matin Mehdi was arrested last year in Kurigram. He is accused in several cases relating to militant activities in Gaibandha, Bogra and Jhenaidha.
Police said they are hunting for at least seven JMB leaders in Shaghata upazila and adjoining areas.
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