Police on Monday claimed that Middle East (ME) is the key financial backers of the militants involved in launching terror attacks in city’s Gulshan café and Sholakia of Kishorganj district.
“We have obtained information that at least Taka 13 lakh was smuggled into Bangladesh through hundi transfer (an illegal system) from the Middle East. Most of the money was spent in house rent and weapons,” said Monirul Islam, an additional commissioner of police and chief of Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit at DMP media centre in city yesterday.
He said as they came to know the identity of the person who received the money from this end they are trying to capture him. “But the sources of arms have not yet been known,” Monirul Islam said,adding but they are confirmed that the supply of arms in both attacks came through India.
Police have also identified four Neo-banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leader—Ripon, Khalid, Bashar and Rajib Gandhi alias Shuvash alias Gandhi. Of them, Ripon and Khalid have already fled to India.
“After the raids in Kalyanpur, Azimpur and others areas, law enforcers have been able to bring down the strength of JMB down to 30-40 percent,” Monirul said.
Investigation has been underway into the terror incidents. Since then, police have had success in cracking some major militant dens and bringing down some militant leaders. Several Neo JMB leaders, including coordinator and trainer, were killed during the raids in city’s Mirpur (Rupnagar), Kalyanpur, Azimpur and Naryanganj area, said Monirul.
Replying to a query, he said the two minor children rescued from Azimpur militant den, have already been handed over to their relatives, while another one, the son of slain militant Karim, is being interrogated, he added.
The sources of money and arms came to light after the July 1, 2016 terror attack on Holey Artisan at Gulshan in which 22 people including the attackers while another terror attack was carried out at Eid congregation in Sholakia Eidgah on July 7, 2016 in which four people were killed.
Police have widened the dragnet to nab the militants after the terror attacks and successfully arrested some of them while some militants were killed in firings between police and the militants.
