Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Friday detained three suspected members of banned militant outfit Ansar al-Islam from Cox's Bazar.
They were detained from the Chaufaldandi area of Cox's Bazar Sadar in the early hours of Friday.
Extremist pamphlets, leaflets and explosive-making manuals were recovered from them.
Commander Arafat Islam, director of RAB's legal and media wing, confirmed the matter at a press briefing at RAB-15 headquarters on Friday.
Arms supplier to Jama'atul Ansar held
3 members of Ansar al-Islam’s new group 'Shahadat' arrestedThe detainees were identified as Zakaria Mandal, 19, Md Niamat Ullah, 21, and Md Ozair.
On the basis of intelligence information, a joint operation team of RAB-7 and RAB-15 conducted the operation in Chaufaldandi area of Cox's Bazar Sadar.
The RAB official said during primary interrogation all three arrestees confessed to being active members of the banned militant outfit.
Due to the recent arrests of several group members by law enforcement agencies, they are now actively recruiting new members to rejuvenate the organization. Their recruitment strategy primarily targets teenagers who are susceptible to manipulation, particularly those aged 19-20 years and students and teachers associated with madrasas, he added.
The detained members originally wanted to come to Cox's Bazar and meet with “an important person" but the whole plan was foiled. Legal action is being taken against the arrested militants.
