RAB mops up Savar militant den

Four militants surrendered with zero casualties in Savar, as Rapid Action Battalion 4 (RAB 4) set a new example for anti-militancy drives on Sunday. The suspected militants surrendered after a 12 hour siege at Chakalgram of Pathalia union under the upazila in Dhaka, with RAB cordoning off the hideout at 1am. Gunfire was exchanged throughout the operation from the very first hour, but RAB remained steadfast in their efforts to avoid casualties. They repeatedly urged the militants to surrender, eventually proving successful in showing them the error of their ways.

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RAB Media and Legal Wing Director Commander Mufti Mahmood Khan said: “We tried to demoralise them, trying to show them the wrong of what they are following. We constantly tried to inspire them to surrender and choose the right path.” The four were identified as Mozzamel Hoque, Rashed Nabi, Irfanul Islam and Alamgir Hossain. Commander Mufti Mahmood Khan added that they were from New JMB’s Sarwar –Tamim faction. The militants finally heeded their words when RAB threatened to enter forcefully if they did not surrender. After this warning, each of the militants exited the compound with their hands in the air. They surrendered one by one, leaving the building 10-20mins apart between 12pm and 1pm. RAB 4 Commanding Officer Additional Deputy Inspector General Lutful Kabir said: “Our target was to achieve such a peaceful conclusion and we made it. This is may be an example for all.” [caption id="attachment_76428" align="aligncenter" width="800"] RAB vehicles near the militant hideout in Chakalgram of Savar, Dhaka, on Sunday, July 16, 2017 Tarek Mahmud/DhakaTribune[/caption]   Meanwhile, the conclusion to the raid also lifted a veil of fear that had descended on Chakalgram, just five kilometres from the Dhaka-Aricha highway, with its beginning. RAB had asked people to evacuate their homes for designated safe zones prior to beginning operations, both through an announcement from the local mosques as well as by going door to door. The precaution may have helped prevent bloodshed, but locals were nevertheless anxious right until the end of the 12 hour ordeal. The hideout, rented by the militants about two months ago, is completely isolated. There is no other building within half a kilometre in any direction. Alauddin, one of the local villagers, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The house was locked from the inside most of the time. We hardly saw any of the residents, and sometimes peeped into the house while crossing the road beside it out of curiosity.” He added that he had seen two or three young people inside the building in the past, once even seeing a woman serving water to a man.

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Other locals, including village police official Bacchu Mia, echoed Alauddin’s comments on how the residents of the hideout had seemed suspicious and never interacted with others or left the house. While observing the militants’ surrender, local Hasna Banu said: “This may be curse for the village. We never used to rent to outsiders. We began doing so last year and now militants are at the doorstep to our peaceful village.” She added that all the villagers would now think twice before renting to anyone unknown.