32 Islamic militants nabbed in raid on Barguna mosque
Suspected as Bangla Bhai's men; seized books, leaflets outline how to attack PMO, police stations and fight paramilitary
Our Correspondent, Barisal
Police yesterday arrested 32 suspected Islamic militants in training in a mosque and seized jihad-inspiring books, leaflets and other printed materials in an outlying village in the southern district of Barguna. A handwritten guide titled "Surprise Action" inspires the militants to attack the Prime Minister's Office and police stations and fight paramilitary and other forces in the event of resistance. Law enforcers also seized a booklet on how to operate AK-47 rifles and attack police stations and a map of different high-profile locations from Ahmed Master's Mosque in Shialia village in Barguna Sadar upazila. The books contained pictures of Osama bin Laden and messages on jihad. Police linked the militants to the Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh of dreaded vigilante commander Bangla Bhai, blamed for a series of killings and abductions in the northwest since April 1. Barguna police said the 32 youths stayed in several mosques in the district for training in martial art, including kung fu and karate, under cover of preaching Islamic principles on Sunday and Monday. Among the arrestees, some were students of Barguna Government College and Barguna Alia Madrasa, who came from Patharghata and Mathbaria upazilas, while the rest came from northwestern districts of Rajshahi, Sylhet and Bogra. The morning raid came after Imam Tofazzal Hossain of Khejurtala Mosque, appointed by another imam Al Ullah as a guide for the youths, protested the militant training in the mosque. The outraged militants threatened him with death and tied his hands. Tofazzal fled the mosque under cover of dark and informed villagers, who alerted Barguna Police Station to the incident before hemming in the militants. A police team led by Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mofazzal Hossain and Barguna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Syed Shafiqul Islam arrived in the village and arrested the youths. Barguna Superintendent of Police Zahurul Islam told The Daily Star that the arrestees are aged between 15 and 35. Police also arrested Mostafa Hasan, a teacher of Tiakhali Halta Madrasa, who was coordinating the training, and Al Ullah, local coordinator of the militant activities. Among the seized books are Jongi Proshikhaner Kolakoushal (Militant Training Maneuvers), Eso Kafelay Jai and Jihad Santras Noy Rahamat (Jihad is not Terrorism but Blessings) edited by Mawlana Abdullah Al Azhar and Musalmander Guerrilla Juddha Poddhoti (Tactics of Muslims' Guerrilla Warfare) edited by Mawlana Masruf Al Azhar.
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