Rab member killed in Sitakunda attack

A Rapid Action Battalion officer was beaten to death and three others injured after a group of criminals attacked a Rab team in the Jungle Salimpur area of Chattogram’s Sitakunda upazila yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Deputy Assistant Director Abdul Motalebof Rab-7, police confirmed.

The incident occurred near the local BNP office in No. 1 Jungle Salimpur of the Chhinnamul area, according to police and Rab officials.

Rab-7 Media Officer ASP ARM Mozaffar Hossain said the team was attacked by local thugs while conducting an operation in the area.

“After being rescued, one succumbed to his injuries at a hospital, while the remaining three were admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH),” he added.

However, SI Nur Alam Ashek, in-charge of the CMCH police outpost, said no Rab members had been admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital until 8:30pm.

Rab sources later confirmed that the injured officers were taken to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Chattogram.

Chattogram district Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Sirajul Islam told The Daily Star, “We have learned that a Rab team went to the area to conduct an operation. A group of criminals suddenly attacked the team and abducted four members. Of them, one Rab member died at a hospital. We visited the spot and are investigating the incident.”

Meanwhile, rumours that Rab officials had been gunned down spread across the area following the attack. Debunking the rumour, Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General Ahsan Habib Palash said, “We don’t know anything about shooting. As far as we know, the Rab team was beaten by local thugs.”

A Facebook video showed people attacking two microbuses, with the vehicles attempting to flee the scene.

Due to its remote, hilly terrain, Jungle Salimpur has become a safe haven for criminals.

The area spans about 3,100 acres on the northern side of the Link Road, opposite Asian University for Women, around two kilometres west of Bayezid Bostami in Chattogram city. Although administratively under Sitakunda, it lies largely within the city limits, bordered by Hathazari upazila to the east and Bayezid thana to the south.