A large cache of locally made and foreign weapons was recovered, and 22 people were detained during a special operation conducted by joint forces in Jungle Salimpur of Sitakunda in Chittagong.
The special drive was conducted from around 5:30am on Monday until 12pm on Tuesday, according to a press release from the Police Headquarters on Tuesday.
A total of 3,183 personnel from various law enforcement agencies took part in the operation, including the Bangladesh Army, Chittagong District Police, Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Armed Police Battalion (APBn). Seven executive magistrates were also present to oversee the operation.
To support the operation, three helicopters, 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), three dog squads from RAB and CMP, and 12 drones were deployed. Using modern technology and special tactical approaches, the joint forces conducted a coordinated combing operation in the remote hilly areas.
The operation was led by DIG of Chittagong Range (recently promoted to Additional IGP) Md Ahsan Habib Palash. RAB-7 Commanding Officer Lt Col Md Hafizur Rahman, Additional DIG of Chittagong Range Md Nazimul Haque, and Chittagong District Superintendent of Police Mohammad Nazir Ahmed Khan were present on the ground to supervise the operation and provide necessary directives.
During the drive, joint forces detained 22 individuals from various remote and hilly locations.
The operation resulted in the recovery of three firearms — including one foreign pistol, one locally made pistol and one LG — along with 27 pipe guns, 30 pistol magazines, 57 pipes used for weapon manufacturing, 61 cartridges and 1,113 rounds of ammunition of different types. Eleven cocktails (explosives) and a lathe machine used for making pipe guns were also seized, along with a large quantity of equipment used in weapon manufacturing.
In addition, 19 CCTV cameras, a 3D DVR, a power box and two binoculars were recovered. Authorities believe these were used by criminals to monitor the movement of law enforcement agencies.
The joint forces also dismantled terrorist hideouts and illegal weapon manufacturing facilities located in different hills of the Alinagar area. Watchtowers built on hilltops and at entry points in Alinagar were demolished, as criminals allegedly used them to observe the movement of law enforcement personnel.
No casualties were reported during the operation, and the overall situation remains fully under the control of law enforcement agencies. Legal proceedings against the detained individuals are currently underway.
Following the operation, two temporary police camps have been established in Jungle Salimpur to maintain law and order, prevent criminals from reorganizing, and ensure the safety of residents.
Among them, 130 personnel from the District Police and APBn have been deployed at the SM Pilot High School camp, while 230 members from the Rapid Response Force (RRF), APBn and RAB-7 have been stationed at the Alinagar High School camp. Additionally, police checkpoints and patrols have been increased in different areas of Jungle Salimpur.
