Joint forces have recovered a large amount of arms and ammunition during a drive against terrorists in Bandarban.
Led by the Army in Bandarban’s Ruma zone, joint forces conducted the drive in the early hours of Thursday in a remote area of Ruma where terrorist hideouts are located, read an ISPR press statement issued yesterday.
Signed by ISPR Assistant Director Rezaul Karim Shammi, the statement added that gunfire was exchanged between the joint force and terrorists during the drive. The weapons were found after the terrorists retreated from their hideouts.
The joint forces drive came as law enforcers continued their attempt to locate the two abducted tourists – Munna and Jubayer – who were abducted from near the Boga lake in Ruma upazila on October 3.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Rapid Action Battalion arrested three alleged arms traders from Moddhompara area of Bandarban town, seizing three AK-47 rifles, two pistols and four mobile phones from their possession.
The arrestees are Ruma upazila residents Lal Pian Tha, 48, Chi Thai Chakma, 44, and Bachu Bam, 44.
Acting on a tip-off, a RAB team conducted a drive at a guest house in Modhhompara and recovered the firearms and arrested the men. They were later taken to Chittagong RAB Headquarters for further questioning. RAB sources said the detainees were buying firearms from terrorist groups in the hill districts and later selling those to different places across the country.
