By Mir Afroz Zaman, POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Oct 21, 2022 : The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a total of 10 people, including seven members of the new militant organization Jamaatul Ansar Phil Hindal Sharqeera and three members of the Pahari separatist organization from different areas of Bandarban and Rangamati in Bangladesh. A large amount of arms and ammunition were recovered.
RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Commander Khandaker Al Moin confirmed the matter on Thursday (October 20) night.
He said, recently the operation started in the hills to catch the top leaders of the new militant organization ‘Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya’. The news was that youths who were left homeless in the name of new so-called Hijrat due to militancy had taken refuge in hilly shelters for Jamaatul Ansar. 10 people have been arrested in these hideouts for several days. During this time, a large amount of arms and ammunition were recovered from them.
RAB did not reveal the names of those arrested. The RAB official also said that the details will be given later.
Earlier, the local administration banned tourist travel indefinitely from Tuesday (October 18) in Ruma and Rowangchari upazilas of Bandarban due to security concerns.
The operation was conducted against a hill terrorist group called ‘Kuki-Chin National Front’ (KNF) in the border area of Ruma and Rowanchari.
It should be noted that RAB was established in Bangladesh in a non-communal spirit. But after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975, the pro-Pakistan started reorganizing. Militant activities are increasing. Later RAB was established. But the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami government uses RAB as a political tool. Since coming to power, the Awami League has streamlined the RAB and Sheikh Hasina’s government has declared zero-tolerance on extremism. Since then, RAB has gained acceptance across the world in countering militancy. In this continuation, RAB continues to conduct anti-militancy operations in the hills.
