JMB behind terrorist attacks in Rangpur region: DIG

The banned extremist outfit Jama`atul Mujaheedin Bangladesh (JMB) is behind killings of Japanese citizen Hoshi Kunio and recent terrorist attacks on Italian citizen, temples and other places in Rangpur region.

Acting Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for Rangpur Range Humayun Kabir in a press briefing here on Tuesday informed the journalists that some arrested JMB militants have confessed their involvements with all these crimes.

The Superintendents of Police and senior police officials from all eight districts under Rangpur Range were present.

Earlier on last October 3, a band of three masked criminals shot dead Japanese national Hoshi Konyo in Katchu Alutari village under Kawnia upazila in Rangpur.

On November 8 last, another group of miscreants shot at Ruhul Amin, personal assistant to the Director of Rangpur Medical College Hospital in Ideal Mur area in Rangpur city.

On November 10 last, some assailants slaughtered medicine trader and `Khadem` of `Sureswari Mazar` Rahamat Ali to death in village Bajemoskur Mashrumpara under Kawnia upazila in Rangpur.

Besides, a group of miscreants shot at Italian citizen Dr. Pierro Parolary with a view to kill him in Dinajpur district town on November 18 last.

The DIG said the JMB militants are involved with all these four incidents of murders or attempts to murders, attacks in temples and `Rush Mela` recently in Rangpur division.

"So far, we have arrested 18 members of banned extremists outfit JMB, including five from Rangpur, seven from Dinajpur, three each from Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat in these connections," he added.

Arrested JMB`s Ehsar Member Ishaque Ali, Regional Commander Masud Rana and cadres Abul Khayer and Fuad, among others, have admitted their involvements with these killings or attempts to killings and other terrorist attacks, he said.

Ishaque Ali, who was arrested from Pirgachha upazila in Rangpur on last December 7, gave confessional statement admitting his involvement with Kunio murder before the senior Judicial Magistrate Court Shafiul Alam here last night.

In an earlier press briefing on December 8 last, the DIG said Regional Commander of JMB Masud Rana also gave confessional statement in these connections under section 164 before the learned court of Senior Judicial Magistrate.

While answering to various questions today, the DIG said Ishaque, a close associate of Masud Rana, the main accused of all these four incidents, including Hoshi Kunio murder, has confessed his involvements with all these four crimes.

As per confession of the arrested JMB cadres, police has so far recovered three firearms, huge inputs for making grenades, motorcycles and various illegal goods and those have been sent for ballistic tests, the DIG said.