Crackdown: Police arrests 3115 in fourth day

Members of Police have detained 3115 people in the fourth day of a countrywide security operation aimed at combating extremist violence against religious minorities and secular activists.

Thousands of policemen and members of paramilitary units are taking part in the crackdown, which is targeting suspected militants and people with criminal records, according to police.

During the crackdown police detained more than 8,500 people, 120 are suspected militants, said Kamrul Hasan, Public Relation Officer of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

The government, under pressure to curb a wave of extremist violence that has resulted in the deaths of more than 40 people over the past 12 months, insists the arrests are necessary to restore law and order.

The violence has been directed against members of religious minorities, secular bloggers, university teachers and foreign aid workers.

The political opposition said Sunday that the law-enforcement agencies were rounding up opposition activists on the pretext of fighting terrorism, something authorities denied.