The youth were trained in heavy weapons: RAB

News Desk: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested 10 people in raids in the hilly areas of Bandarban and Rangamati. RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Commander Khandaker Al Moin gave this information in a press conference at Bandarban District Council auditorium on Friday. He said that recently, an operation was started in the hills to catch the top leaders of the new militant organization 'Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya'. In the name of new so-called hijrat due to militancy, the homeless youth took refuge in hilly shelters for Jamaatul Ansar. In these shelters, the emigrant youth were trained in handling heavy weapons. He also said that RAB published the list of 55 youths of 19 districts who were recently driven from their homes in the name of voluntary migration motivated by extremism. Full names and addresses of 38 of them have been published. Besides, it is known recently that some young militants are training without their homes in the remote mountains bordering India and Myanmar. The new militant organization is being trained by an armed group called the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF). The total number of trainees in the training camp in the hill region is more than fifty. Anisur Rahman Mahmud is the leader of the extremist organization called 'Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya'. In addition, this organization has six Shura members, who are responsible for invitation, military, finance, media and advisory. Shura member Abdullah Maimun Dawati is the head of the branch, Maskur Rahman is the head of the military branch, Maruf Ahmed is the second person of the military branch, Mosharraf Hossain is the head of the finance and media branch, Shamim Mahfuz is the chief advisor and overall supervisor of training and Bholar Shaikh Alem is serving in the organization as the head of the department. They chose the remote areas of Bandarban and Rangamati to secretly conduct various trainings in armed struggle including weapons handling. For this they take the help of a local separatist organization. They used to collect their food and other essentials in exchange of money from a separatist organization in the hill region. They communicate with their members in different parts of the country through various social media. The three arrested members of separatist organizations in the region were found to be members of the KNA, the military wing of the KNF. It is known that in 2021, Amir of Jamaatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya established a relationship with KNF founder Nathang Bam and signed an agreement to provide training to the members of Jamaatul Ansar till 2023 under the umbrella of KNF in the hill region. According to the agreement, three lakh taka per month and food expenses of all KNF members were to be borne. Khandaker Al Moin said that 10 people have been arrested from various areas of Bandarban and Rangamati after continuous raids for several days. During this time, a large amount of arms and ammunition were recovered from them. Besides, more than 50 militants are believed to be hiding in the hills. This operation will continue until all are found. Among the 10 arrested, seven are members of the militant organization Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three are members of the Pahari separatist organization. During the arrest, a huge amount of arms and ammunition was recovered from them. The arrested are Syed Maruf Ahmed Manik (31) of Jagannathpur Upazila of Sunamganj, Rufu Mia (26) of Chatak Upazila, Imran Hossain Sawon (31) of Swarupkathi Upazila of Pirojpur, Kausar Shishir (46) of Shailkupa Upazila of Jhenaidah, Jahangir Ahmed Janu (27) of Biyanibazar Upazila of Sylhet. , Abu Bakkar Siddique Bappi (23) of Golapganj Upazila, Ibrahim Ali (19) of Barisal, Jouthan Bum (19) of Rawangchari Upazila of Bandarban, Stephen Bum (19) and Mal Sam Bum (20). Recovered weapons include 9 SBBL guns, 50 rounds of SBBL gun bullets, 62 cartridge cages, 6 bombs, 1 country-made pistol, leaflets, Jihadi books, clothes and various equipment.