Bangladesh: Woman among 4 militants killed in Chittagong, 7 families rescued
The security forces in Bangladesh have killed four suspected JBM militants in Chittagong during the overnight raid. According to police, slain militants include a woman.
Picture for representation. (Photo: @unbnewsroom)
Dhaka,UPDATED: Mar 16, 2017 16:29 IST
At least four militants have been killed and several others injured including police officials in an overnight raid by the Bangladesh police in what is considered as a militant den in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong district.
Police also rescued 20 members of seven families trapped in the zone of gunfight. Police had raided a building in which suspected Islamist militants were hiding.
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The security forces had launched operation Assault 16 and cordoned off the area yesterday. The operation ended this morning.
BANGLADESH'S OPERATION ASSAULT 16: THINGS TO KNOW
- Chittagong Police superintendent Noor-e-Alam Mia told India Today Dhaka correspondent that the operation was called off this morning. Mia confirmed that slain militants include a woman and three men.
- Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Chittagong range Shafiqul Islam said, "Operation Assault 16 was called off after four militants hiding in the building were killed. The operation lasted four hours."
- The identities of the slain militants could not be known immediately, Islam said. They are suspected to be the members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JBM).
- The DIG also said that 20 members of seven families were trapped inside the building during the overnight raid. They were taken to safety before the joint force started their final knock down around 6:00 am today.
- Bombs were found inside a flat in the building at Premtala and members of bomb disposal unit were still working to defuse the bombs inside that house.
- The DIG told the reporters that two policemen, a member of Special Weapon and Tactic Team (SWAT) and a fire fighter are among the injured.
- The operation Assault 16 was jointly conducted out by Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, SWAT, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Chittagong district police.
- Three handmade grenades, a suicide vest, a pistol, bomb making circuits and 12 round bullets were recovered from the spot.
- Chittagong police had tracked down the hideout of the militants at Premtala area yesterday after getting some crucial tip-offs.
- Hours ago, the security forces had cracked down another militant hideout in Amirabad area only a kilometre away from the latest spot of operation and arrested two suspected militants.
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