RAB nabs 7 alleged militants, 3 separatists in Chattogram Hill Tracts operation

STAFF REPORTER

The Rapid Action Battalion has arrested 10 people – seven alleged members of the new militant outfit ‘Jamaatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya’ and three alleged separatists – during an operation in different areas of Bandarban and Rangamati.

The RAB also said it recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition.

Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of RAB’s legal and media wing, confirmed the news on Thursday (October 20, 2022).

Meanwhile, locals have recovered the body of a young man named Rangua Tanchangya (33) from Barathali of Bilaichhari of Rangamati, adjacent to Ruma upazila of Bandarban this morning (Oct 20).

According to local public representatives, the youth was abducted by militants on October 15.

A coordinated anti-militancy operation by law enforcement agencies has been going on in the remote area for nearly two weeks.

Earlier on October 10, the RAB in Dhaka said that the members of the new militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Ansar Fil Hindil Sharqiya are being trained under the umbrella of a separatist organisation in the hill tracts.

An operation in coordination with different security forces has been launched in the hill tracts, according to the elite force.

Law enforcers said Jamaat-ul-Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya has set up a training camp at the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) camp in the remote parts of the hill tracts.

RAB’s Moin told a press conference on Wednesday (Oct 19) that a “considerable progress” has been made in the “coordinated” anti-militancy operation in the hill tracts.

Public representatives of Barathali Union Parishad of Bilaichhari upazila said that during the anti-militancy operation, 28 workers from Tigerpara of Ward No. 2 of Barathali Union went to Saijampara in aid of law enforcement agencies on October 12.

While 22 of them returned home on October 13, six were with the law enforcers. On October 15, the six men came face to-face with the militants on their way back home in Tigerpara.

Two workers managed to escape, but four were caught by the militants. Though three of the four managed to escape on October 16, Ranguya Tanchangya has yet to return.

Many youths have in recent years left home in the name of so-called hijrat (migration or moving from one place to another) to join the new militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Ansar Fil Hindil Sharqiya.

The militant outfit has also arranged for their training in the remote parts of the hill tracts to use heavy weapons.

Since October 10, joint forces, including the RAB, have launched an anti-militancy operation in the hill tracts.

According to the RAB, a total of 55 youths from 19 districts have in recent years left home after being motivated by extremism.