WEB DESK
The elite law enforcement agency of Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has intensified its operations in the forested areas of Bandarban and Rangamati against separatists and militants. Briefing media in Dhaka on Friday, the spokesperson for RAB Commander Khandker Al Moin said that 10 militants and separatists have been arrested in the operation on Thursday night. It included seven members of the newly launched militant outfit Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three members of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) from Bandarban and Rangamati.
RAB also recovered nine guns, 50 rounds of bullets, cartridges, 62 cases, six bombs, cartridge case, two cartridge belts and one locally made pistol along with other equipment and jihadi books.
The RAB spokesperson said that the arrestees confessed that they had an agreement with KNF to provide them shelter and training in exchange for money. The Emir of Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya struck a deal with the Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) based KNF in 2021 to receive militant training at Taka 3 lakh per month and food expenses of all KNF members, said the RAB spokesperson. More than 50 militants were being trained at the camps in the CHT areas. RAB is working to find more details, said Commander Khandker.
Referring to the case of some young men who left their homes recently and went missing, the RAB spokesperson said that most of these people are hiding in the CHT forests.