Operation Maximus postponed for today
- SWAT-led ‘Operation Maximus’ postponed for today
- Militants believed to have huge stash of bombs - Four to five militants inside: Officials
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The law enforcers have postponed the operation at the suspected militant den in Borohat area of Moulvibazar for today due to insufficient light.
The operation will resume tomorrow morning, Monirul Islam, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said while briefing media after concluding the drive.
He, however, could not figure out the exact number people holing up in the duplex villa. “We have felt the presence of more than one suspects there,” Monirul said.
SWAT team could not enter the hideout as the militants obstructed using explosives whenever they tried to penetrate to the building, he said.
Earlier in the day, a policeman suffered injuries in a blast believed to have been caused by bombs hurled by the holed up militants during the operation.
Constable Koisar was taken to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital, our local correspondent reports from the spot. District Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shahjalal confirmed the development.
Monirul said the injury was minor in stature. "Otherwise, everyone of the law enforcing agencies is safe and sound. Operation Maximus is underway".
Meanwhile, sporadic firing and blasts ensued around the duplex villa in Moulvibazar Sadar since this morning as SWAT joined in to launch assault “Operation Maximus”.
‘Militants holding up with huge stash of bombs’
The CTTC unit chief Monirul earlier feared that about four to five militants were inside the house with huge stash of explosives.
"Operation Maximus is difficult as there are several rooms with huge explosives lying scattered. We suspected that an explosive expert in the building," he told journalists at the spot this morning.
Locals and residents of nearby houses have already been evacuated. Restriction on gatherings and movement of the general – Section 144 – was clamped on this morning.
Members of bomb disposal unit and a team of firefighters reached the spot around 9:15am.
The operation began around 8:00am at the hideout, some 20km from Nasirpur, where seven to eight suspected militants were killed in "Operation Hit Back" that ended last night.
Police cordoned the hideout since early Tuesday suspecting that several militants might be there.
Comments