The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested 17 suspected members of the new militant group “Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya” and three suspected members of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) during the ongoing anti-militancy drive in Bandarban on Tuesday.
They were arrested in a raid in the area adjacent to Remakri Bridge of Thanchi upazila, RAB said on Wednesday.
RAB spokesperson Khandaker Al Moin said domestic and foreign weapons, ammunition and bomb-making equipment, books related to extremism, leaflets, Tk 7 lakh and various tools were recovered from the arrested individuals.
The arrested militants were identified as Aasami Rahman alias Saifullah, 19, son of Mahbubur Rahman, resident of Cumilla Sadar upazila, Md Sohel Molla alias Saifullah, 22, son of Malek Molla, of Betagi upazila in Barguna, Md Al Amin Fakir alias Mostaq, 19, son of Forkan Fakir, of Patuakhali district headquarters, Md Zahirul Islam alias Omar Farooq, 27, son of Abdul Latif of Langalkot upazila in Cumilla, Md Miraj Shikdar alias Ashraf Hossain alias Dolan, 26, son of Altaf Hossain, of Patuakhali district headquarters, Riaz Sheikh alias Zayed, 24, son of Abdul Quddus of Tongibari in Munshiganj, Md Obaidullah alias Obaidul alias Shakib alias Shanto, 20, son of Ismail Hossain Howlader of Mohipur in Patuakhali, Jewel Mahmud alias Mahmud, 27, son of Anis Musalli of Mirzaganj in Patuakhali, Elias Rahman Tanzil alias Sohel alias Tanboan, son of Dulal Rahman of Tangail, Md Habibur Rahman alias Mora, 23, son of Abu Yusuf Howlader, resident of Jhalakathi, Md Sakhawat Hossain alias Mabrur alias Risingh, 21, son of Malek Forazi, of Cumilla, Abdus Salam Raki alias Dumchuk alias Russell, son of Nasir Howladar of Kotwali in Barisal, Jobair Ahmed alias Aiman alias Aiman alias Renal alias Omar, 29, son of Maulana Hossain Ahmad of Laksam in Cumilla, Tawabur Rahman Sohan alias Minto alias Maobak alias Zakir Alam, 20, son of late Qutubur Rahman of Madhabpur in Habiganj, Mohammad Mahmud alias Dakua alias Haka, 20, son of Golam Mustafa of Barisal, Mohammad Abu Huraira alias Miraj alias Saiso, son of late Shamsur Rahman of Magura.
The arrested members of KNF are Malsam Pangkua, 52, son of Jalsur Pangkua of Bilaichhari in Rangamati, and Lal Mol Siam Bom, and Flag Kroos.
