'Gunshots, blasts' heard again in Moulvibazar after postponing anti-terror raid

Loud bangs of blasts and noise of intermittent gunfire have been heard from Barahat militant den after the law-enforcer put off the operation Moulvibazar.

Earlier, intermittent blasts and intense firing had continued during the day on Friday.

Later in the evening, police's counterterrorism unit chief Monirul Islam announced the postponement of the operation until Saturday morning.

But, the sounds of gunshots in two phases and multiple explosions were heard again after 8pm. It was not immediately clear who fired the shots or if anyone was injured in the firing and blasts.

The members of SWAT, who were conducting the 'Operation Maximus' to neutralise the militant suspects, have left the raid site. Police and RAB personnel continued to cordon the house off.

Speaking to reporters amid rains in the evening on Sylhet-Moulvibazar Highway, a kilometre away from the house, Monirul said, "The operation has been postponed for the day because of the poor light and bad weather."

"The operation will resume if the weather improves tomorrow (Saturday) morning," he added. 

He also said more than one militant might hole up in the house and the SWAT members came under a bomb attack while trying to enter the den. No one was injured at that time.

Earlier, police said they suspected a 'large' amount of explosives were stored in the house and a militant bomb expert was in it.

An injured policeman was rushed to the hospital when the operation was under way in the house on Friday.

It began at 8am after a SWAT, and a bomb-disposal team reached the location.

Bursts of gunfire could be heard after the operation began. At 11am, smoke was seen coming out of the building following the sound of a loud explosion.

Then continuous firing began around 12pm followed by three consecutive and large explosions. The injured policeman, constable Kauser, was rushed away right after that.

"He is from the district police. He was taking part in the operation. His throat started bleeding after being hit by an empty bullet shell from the rifle of the person next to him," said Moulvibazar police OC Aukhil Uddin.

Monirul Islam then held a briefing at the location around 11am.

Detectives got to know about two hideouts in Moulvibazar while investigating the militants killed by security forces inside a building complex in Sylhet's Shibbari, he said.

"It is a tough operation because there are many buildings here with a lot of rooms."

"We have information that suggests there are huge amounts of bombs here along with an expert bomb maker. So, our operation here will take some time."

The situation was under control and updates would be provided in case of developments, he said.

Prohibitory orders under Section-144 were in force in the area surrounding the suspected militant hideout.

Gas and power connections to the house have been snapped.

Police have been trying to prevent the gathering of curious onlookers around the operation zone.

CT chief Monirul Islam and DIG (Sylhet Range) Kamrul Ahsan reached Barahat before the SWAT team arrived.

They had supervised 'Operation Hit Back' at Nasirpur, 18kms from Barahat, where police rounded off a siege on Thursday evening, after seven to eight militants blew themselves up in the house cordoned off by police. Those who died may include family members of the militants, police said.

A similar cordon has been thrown around a suspected militant hideout at Comilla's Kotbari but operations there were delayed by the city council elections on Thursday.