7 bodies recovered from Mirpur militant hideout

The elite striking force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Wednesday recovered seven burned bodies from Mirpur hideout of the militant outfit Neo-JMB, reports BSS.

RAB Director General Brenazir Ahmed told reporters on the spot that they have found seven bodies in two rooms at a flat on the fourth floor of the six-storey building at Mazar Road in Mirpur at the end of a two-day operation.

The charred carcasses included the bodies of top Neo-JMB leader Abdullah, his two wives, two children and two accomplices, he added.

The RAB chief, however, said they could not identify the bodies individually as those were burned badly due to the fire caused from the explosions.

He confirmed that the militants were killed in explosions carried out by themselves on Tuesday night.

All the explosives, including IED (improvised explosive device), stockpiled in the militant den have been destroyed in the explosions, he said, adding that the RAB men started the search at 9:30 this morning along with the help of bomb disposal units, dog squads and fire service personnel.

The Mirpur militant hideout was rocked with big explosions and gunshots on Tuesday night when RAB personnel were waiting there for expected surrender of some of the members of the banned militant outfit.

Four security personnel suffered minor splinter injuries, a RAB official said adding that but they were safe.

The security personnel had been cordoning off the den since 1 am on Monday following information extracted from two militants arrested from Tangail.

Earlier on the day, the RAB spokesperson said one of the militants Abdullah communicated with them and agreed to surrender by 8 pm on Tuesday. But the explosions and gunshots were heard there at around 9.45 pm.

Abdullah, who joined the JMB in 2005, has long been staying in the house in guise of an IPS (instant power supply) maker and dealer.

RAB said 65 residents including 15 children, 24 women, and 26 men of 23 flats out of 25 of the house were taken out and its gas, electricity and sewerage lines were severed.