‘Militants rented house 3 months ago’

Law enforcers had surrounded the five-storied building named ‘Achia Mahal’ in Shibbari’s Bandarghat area of Sylhet since the wee hours of Friday where it is believed to have two militants. Several gunshots and explosions were heard from the spot.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the militants were chanting slogans like “Allahu Akbar” and hurled grenade from the house around 8am.

Owner of the house, one Ustar Mia told that, “The militants rented the house by introducing them as husband-wife three months ago. They are Kawser Ali and Morzina Begum.”

However, all residents of the neighbouring building beside ‘Achia Mahal’ have been evacuated.

In this connection, Basudeb Banik, Deputy Commissioner (South) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police told the journalists that, “About 70 civilians have been moved out. Power line has been cut.”

Rokonuddin, Additional Police Commissioner of Sylhet, told reporters that they sensed an anomaly in the tenant information of Ustar Mia’s house.

“We then began searching and verified some other information before today’s raid,” he added.