Security forces put a pause to terror operation in Moulvibazar for lack of light

Law-enforcement agencies have suspended an operation to neutralise suspected militants at a house in Moulvibazar's Nasirpur due to lack of light.

Staff CorrespondentMoulvibazar Correspondent and bdnews24.com
Published : 29 March 2017, 01:51 PM
Updated : 29 March 2017, 09:38 PM

SWAT and counterterrorism personnel started the assault, codenamed 'Operation Hit Back', around 6:30pmon Wednesday, Deputy Inspector General of Police Kamrul Ahsan said.

Multiple gunshots were heard after the operation had been launched amid rains.

There was a relative lull for some time after 7:30pm, but the operation did not end, DIG (Sylhet range) Kamrul said.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Mainuddin, the commanding officer of RAB's Srimangal camp, told bdnews24.com around 11pm that the operation was suspended due to lack of light.

"It will resume after arranging sufficient light or in the morning," he added.

Another house at Barhahaat in Moulvibazar municipality, some 18 kilometres from the house in Nasirpur, has also been cordoned off.

The local administration has imposed Section 144 restricting movement of vehicles and pedestrians in the two areas.

Gas and power connections have also been cut off. The district administration used loudspeakers to advise the residents to stay safe.
 


About 10 people, including women and children, are in the houses owned by an expatriate in London, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said

In the afternoon, ambulances, ladders, power generators and other materials used in a similar operation in Chittagong's Sitakunda and Sylhet's South Surma were brought to Nasirpur.



The SWAT and bomb disposal teams arrived in Nasirpur by microbus. One of the teams left the area for Barhahaat.



The home minister said he thought SWAT members were 'sufficient' to tackle the situation, but the army would be called in if necessary.