Nine militants held for links to grenade attack on Hasina
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Nine suspected operatives of the Islamic outfit Harkatul Jihad have been arrested along with 16 Arges grenades and other firearms in the latest hunt for the suspects in the August 21 grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina's rally, official sources said, reports UNB.
They were held from different parts of the country in the 24-hours to 10am Monday, on tip-off from the organisation's chief, Mufti Abdul Hanan, and three others on remand.
Acting over their confessional statements, a special team of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) conducted massive raids in Dhaka, Khulna, Magura, Kushtia, Jhenidah and Narsingdi, and arrested the nine persons.
During the drive, the elite force also recovered 16 Arges grenades, two rifles, one pistol and one revolver from their possession, a RAB official told the reporters at a press briefing at the RAB headquarters.
The nine arrested militant are Hossain Ahmed Tamim, Abul Kalam Azad, Jahangir Alam, Abdul Quddus, Omar Faruk, Amirul Islam, Ali Ahmed, Mukaddes Billah and Baki Billah.
The arrested suspects and the cache of arms were shown at the news conference.
With these nine, 13 members of Harkatul Jihad have been held so far across the country.
Earlier, on October 24, Mufti Hannan and his three associates -Mofizur Rahman Ovi, Maulana Abu Sayeed and Mohammad Sharif alias Bipul - were taken on a 10-day remand.
During interrogation, they were reported to have confessed of their involvement "directly and indirectly" in the grenade attack on the rally, addressed by Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. The ex-PM had a narrow escape, while at least 24 people, including the party's women affairs secretary Ivy Rahman, were killed in the attack.
Mufti Hannan, arrested on October 2, 2005, is accused in a number of other deadly blasts, including Ramna concert bombing, and the grenade attack on British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury.
They were held from different parts of the country in the 24-hours to 10am Monday, on tip-off from the organisation's chief, Mufti Abdul Hanan, and three others on remand.
Acting over their confessional statements, a special team of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) conducted massive raids in Dhaka, Khulna, Magura, Kushtia, Jhenidah and Narsingdi, and arrested the nine persons.
During the drive, the elite force also recovered 16 Arges grenades, two rifles, one pistol and one revolver from their possession, a RAB official told the reporters at a press briefing at the RAB headquarters.
The nine arrested militant are Hossain Ahmed Tamim, Abul Kalam Azad, Jahangir Alam, Abdul Quddus, Omar Faruk, Amirul Islam, Ali Ahmed, Mukaddes Billah and Baki Billah.
The arrested suspects and the cache of arms were shown at the news conference.
With these nine, 13 members of Harkatul Jihad have been held so far across the country.
Earlier, on October 24, Mufti Hannan and his three associates -Mofizur Rahman Ovi, Maulana Abu Sayeed and Mohammad Sharif alias Bipul - were taken on a 10-day remand.
During interrogation, they were reported to have confessed of their involvement "directly and indirectly" in the grenade attack on the rally, addressed by Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. The ex-PM had a narrow escape, while at least 24 people, including the party's women affairs secretary Ivy Rahman, were killed in the attack.
Mufti Hannan, arrested on October 2, 2005, is accused in a number of other deadly blasts, including Ramna concert bombing, and the grenade attack on British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury.