'Terror den' cordoned off in Comilla; raid to begin after polls

Police have cordoned off a house occupied by suspected militants in Comilla city but the raid to dislodge and arrest the militants will start after the city corporation polls are over.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 29 March 2017, 11:58 AM
Updated : 29 March 2017, 09:45 PM

Members of the counter-terrorism unit sealed off a house in Kotbarhi, a residential neighbourhood in Comilla Wednesday afternoon, said Superintendent of Police Shah Abid Hossain.

The incident came a day before the voting in Comilla City Corporation. CEC KM Nurul Huda in the evening told bdnews24.com that the raid on the house could wait for the polls. He requested the voters not to panic, saying necessary security measures were taken for the polls.

Later around 10pm, Comilla SP Abid told bdnews24.com that police would not raid the house on Thursday. "We've taken this decision so that panic cannot spread among the voters," he said.

"We'll not launch the raid and wait tomorrow (Thursday), unless we are compelled to start it. The operation can be launched on Friday, the day after the voting," he added.

Security forces targeted the three-storey house after gathering intelligence in a nationwide crackdown on militants, a counter-terrorism officer told bdnews24.com.

The building, owned by one Delwar Hossain, is located beside a primary school, which will be used as a polling station for Thursday's elections.

"We believe some militants armed with explosives are inside the building,” SP Hossain told reporters on the scene.

Additional SP Abdul Momen told bdnews24.com: "We have not attempted to enter the building and no shots have been fired."

Meanwhile in Moulvibazar, security forces surrounded two militant hideouts, just hours after the army-led Operation Twilight came to an end in the neighbouring district of Sylhet.

Gunfire and explosions were heard from the two houses on Wednesday morning after police sealed off the houses.