Sagar Biswas :Security forces gunned down nine suspected militants, all members of banned Islamist militant outfit Jamatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh [JMB], storming a bachelor’s mess in the city’s densely populated Kalyanpur area on Tuesday morning. The assault operation of joint forces, named “Operation Storm 26”, started at 5:51 am and continued till 6:51 am. The main target of the operation was a six-storied Taj Manjil, locally known as Jahaj Building, at Road No-5 near Kalyanpur bus stand. Most of the flats of the building have been given rent as messes to the bachelors. The joint forces launched the operation at the fourth floor mess. The law enforcers cordoned entire area during the operation. Vehicular movement was also stopped in the area since midnight. Police said, in line with its country-wide anti-militant drives, the law enforcement agencies cordoned the mess at about 12:10 am on Tuesday. When the police tried to enter the mess, the terrorists shouting “Allahu Akbar” shot bullets and hurled bombs targeting the police. Police retaliated with gunfire where nine alleged terrorists were killed. Besides, an alleged militant Hassan received bullet injuries. An unidentified militant escaped the scene.Injured Hassan was rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital [DMCH] for treatment. Father’s name of Hassan was registered at DMCH as Rezaul Karim, resident of Jamil Nagar in Bogra. According to doctors, Hassan received injuries in the leg and head. After getting resistance from militants, the security forces increased presence of law enforcers. Police claimed that the second-phase gunfight between the law enforcers and militants initiated at about 1:30 am. At that time, the members of SWAT, RAB and CTTCU came to the spot. The third-phase gunfight began at about 3:30 am. Finally, the joint forces launched assault operation at 5:51 am. At that time, some militants tried to flee away spraying bullets on the law enforcers. Nine militants were killed on the spot when joint forcers conducted counter attack. Members of Strategic Weapons and Tactics [SWAT], Rapid Action Battalion [RAB], Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crimes Unit [CTTCU], Bomb Disposal Unit, Fire Service and Civil Defence [FSCD] and police jointly conducted the operation.Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque and Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police [DMP] Asaduzzamn Mia visited the spot at about 8:00 am. The IGP claimed all the slain terrorists were members of JMB. “Police have got information that they were planning to conduct a large-scale terror act like Gulshan carnage. One militant was caught alive from the spot. Although the militants claimed themselves as ISIS, we’ve not got any connection in this regard.” he said.While visiting the area, a resident of the flat named Alamma Iqbal Anik told this correspondent that most of the flats of the building have been given rent as messes to the bachelors. The family of the landlord lives on the first floor. The landlord Atahar Uddin Ahmed doesn’t stay there. His relatives oversee the tenants’ affair. Sub Inspector of Mirpur Police Station said: “A group of seven rented the house on June 20, a few days before the Eid-ul Fitr. Of the dead, bodies of seven were recovered from the corridor of fourth floor. Two other bodies were recovered in two separate rooms.”The educational institutions, including schools and colleges, in the Shyamoli area were closed yesterday to avert any untoward occurrence. Additional Commissioner of DMP Sheikh Maruf Hassan said the anti-militant drive was primarily started by RAB and police at 12:30 am. “Later, the SWAT team started final operation at 5:51 am, which continued for an hour.”Deputy Commissioner of CTTCU Sanwar Hossain said: “The slain militants wore black pajama-panjabi. We’ve also recovered some other brand new black pajama-panjabi. All of them were carrying backpack. Besides, the police recovered a grenade and a pistol from the house.””The militants also posed in the picture wearing black pajama-panjabi before Gulshan attack, which were later circulated by SITE Intelligence website,” he said.After completion of joint force’s drive, the members of Crime Scene Unit of Criminal Investigation Department [CID] came to the spot to collect evidences.
