![The anti-militant assault operation led by para-commando battalion of Bangladesh Army continued for the fourth consecutive day on Monday at Atia Mahal of Shibbari in Sylhet [top]. A commando is seen taking a child to a safe place after rescuing the baby f](https://newnation.io/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/1490633191_7.jpg)
Fresh bodies of four suspected neo-JMB members, including a woman, were recovered from the militant den at Atia Mahal during the fourth day of the ongoing ‘Operation Twilight’ on Monday evening.
The death toll reached 12 with the recovery of four more bodies, Army spokesman Brigadier General Fakhrul Ahsan disclosed this in a press briefing at Shibbari in Sylhet city at 7:30pm yesterday.
Two bodies have already been handed over to the local police while two other bodies found lying with huge grenades and explosive at the militant den could not be handed over to the police considering the security issue, he said.
The Army spokesman could not ascertain the identities of the deceased militants.
The operation likely to be ended today (Tuesday) by handing over the responsibility to the police after taking full control on the militant hideout, he said.
Earlier, two of the militants inside were shot dead by Army commandos on Sunday while six persons, including two police officials died and 43 were injured in two separate blasts in Shibbari on Saturday evening, nearly 400 yards away from Atia Mahal in the city.
The identities of the militants could not be ascertained yet and it is unclear which group they belong to. However, unconfirmed sources say, they are members of New JMB.
The bodies of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) Special Branch’s Inspector Moniruzzaman, SMP court Inspector Chowdhury Abu Kawsar, South Surma Chhatra League leader Jannatul Fahim and City Chhatra League leader Ohidul Islam Opu were handed over to their family members after postmortem at MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital.
The bodies of suspected bombers Shahidul Islam and Khadim Shah were kept at MAG Osmani Medical College morgue, said Hospital Director Brigadier General Abdus Sabur Miah.
The Rapid Action Battalion Intelligence Chief Lieutenant Colonel Abul Kalam Azad was taken to Singapore for better treatment, said RAB Media Wing Director Mufti Mahmud Khan.
Earlier on Sunday evening, Brigadier General Fakhrul Ahsan said in a press briefing that the Para Commandos were taking time because of the high risk involved as the militants have planted a huge stash of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the building, mostly on the ground floor and the staircase.
“We have seen that two militants were killed. We assume there might be one or more militants in there,” said Brig Gen Fakhrul Ahsan.
“They [militants] are well-trained and equipped,” Fakhrul said, adding that the terrorists knew well how to make a place inaccessible. “That’s why it is taking time to complete the operation.” Explaining how well-trained the terrorists are, he said when the commandos charged grenades at the militants, they lobbed those back at the troops. The terrorists also lit fire to protect themselves from teargas.
This means, the militants are trained to cope with such military operations, the Army official said.
“We will finish it off,” he said, but could not spell out how long it would take to end the standoff, which began around 1:30am on Friday when police first cordoned off the building in the city’s Shibbari area.
Before the briefing, one police source said that there might be four to five militants, including a woman, inside the apartment, which has about 150 rooms in some 30 flats.
The army spokesman said that the entrance, ground floor and stairway of Atia Mahal were laden with IEDs. No military person has been injured in the operation so far.
“When the commandos fired tear gas shells inside the militants lit fires to diffuse the impact,” he pointed out as an example. He also claimed that militants were able to protect army grandees and tear shells.
Asked if the troops faced any resistance, Fakhrul said the militants fired shots with small arms and threw explosives and IEDs.
The operation inside ‘Atia Mahal’, the militant den under raid reached over 90 hours yesterday evening as para-military commandos continued their efforts to capture the unidentified militants stationed inside, according to him.
Law enforcers have cordoned off nearly one square kilometer area surrounding the Atia Mahal and the local administration also issued section 144 around four square kilometers considering the security issue of people, said our local correspondent quoting the police.
According to police sources, the detective members of the law enforcing agencies are hunting for more hiding grenades, bombs, and explosives as well as militant hideouts focusing government establishments in Sylhet city and its adjacent areas.
Sub-Inspector of Moglabazar Police Station Shiplu Chowdhury filed two cases around 11:00pm on Sunday accusing unknown persons, our local correspondent reports quoting Khairul Fazal, Officer-in-Charge of Mogholabazar Police Station. One of the two cases was filed over killing six people and another filed under explosives act. The number of the accused was not mentioned in the cases, the OC said.
Earlier, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and security forces say they suspect a senior militant leader could be hiding inside Atia Mahal. Unconfirmed sources said New JMB leader Mainul Islam Musa was staying there with several other senior militant leaders of the banned outfit.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque issued a statement yesterday mourning regarding the death of two police officials. “They have sacrificed their lives for the nation. Their sacrifices will stand forever as an ideal for the police force,” he said.
Namaz-e-Janaza of Inspectors Kawser and Monirul was held at Sylhet Metropolitan Police grounds around 2:00pm yesterday. Later they were laid to rest in their villages in Noakhali and Sunamganj districts respectively.
The building’s owner, Ustar Ali, earlier said that a couple, Kauser Ali and Morjina Begum, rented a lower-storey flat three months ago.
