Suspects killed in Jhenaidah anti-terror raid were neo-JMB operatives, police say

The two terror suspects killed during the raid on a 'militant hideout' in Jhenaidah were members of banned Islamist outfit neo-JMB, a senior police officer has said.

Jhenaidah Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 7 May 2017, 10:20 AM
Updated : 7 May 2017, 10:25 AM

"One of them died during exchange of fire with law enforcers while the other blew himself up inside the house," police's Khulna range chief Didar Ahmmed told the media near the scene.

The deputy inspector general (DIG) said one of them was identified as Tuhin, but could not provide details on the other suspect.

The house in Moheshpur Upazila's Bajrapur village was sealed off late Saturday after intelligence indicated it was used by Islamist radicals, said Jhenaidah Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman.

He said bombs were hurled from the house after police tried to move into it early Sunday.

An officer of the local police and a counter-terrorism officer have been injured when the bombs exploded.

"There is a bullet-hit body just outside the house. We suspect another died inside in a suicide blast," SP Rahman told the media earlier on Sunday.

Police have arrested the landlord Jahurul Islam, his son Jasim and two others, identified as Alam and Arif' from the neighbourhood.

Counter-terrorism unit’s Assistant Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Nazmul Islam and Jhenaidah police's Sub Inspector Mahsin Ali have been hospitalised in Jessore with wounds suffered when the bombs were hurled.

The local administration imposed Section 144 restricting movement of vehicles and pedestrians in the area and used loudspeakers to caution residents.

Fire service trucks and ambulances have been kept on standby and the media is not being allowed to go near the scene.

2 held with bombs, firearms

Meanwhile, police have wrapped up the siege on another suspected terror den on the outskirts of Jhenaidah town, which was cordoned off since Saturday night, DIG Ahmmed said.

He said the raid on the house, owned by one Sarafatat in Lebutala area, ended around 12:45pm.

Two persons have been arrested with eight bombs and a pistol, said the Khulna range police chief. He did not elaborate.

Earlier on Sunday, the counter-terrorism unit's ADC Saiful Islam said they had information about explosives being stored inside the house.

An officer with the Jhenaidah Sadar police said the counter-terrorism unit's raid began after receiving intelligence about the Lebutala militant den.

Later on they received information on the Moheshpur terror hideout and began the raid there. 

In the third week of April, police raided another house in a village near the district town.

No-one was found in the house of Muslim convert 'Abdullah', but police said they found a huge cache of explosives and bomb-making materials there.

A week later, police raided another militant hideout in Chapainawabganj, where four terror suspects died in suicide blasts, officials said.

Police and counter-terrorism personnel have been confronted with such suicide explosions in Sylhet, Moulavibazar and many other places, during raids on terror hideouts this year.