The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested four more members of the newly formed militant outfit ‘Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya’ from Chattogram’s Patiya. 

They were arrested in a drive conducted by RAB in Patiya’s bypass area on Tuesday night, the elite force told a news conference on Wednesday.

The law enforcement agencies have been conducting an anti-militancy operation throughout the country since October last year. 

The arrested 4 militants are – Hossain Ahmed (22), Nihal Abdullah (19), Al Amin (22), and Al Amin alias Partha Kumar Das (21). 

Among them, Hussain Ahmed's home is in Dasmina in Patuakhali, Nihal and Al Amin's in Sadar in Cumilla and Al Amin alias Parth's home is in Dumuria in Khulna.

The arrestees left their home as part of ‘Hijrat’ under the influence of newly introduced ‘Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya’ and took part in armed training in Chattogram Hill Tract,   said Commander Khandaker Al Moin, RAB’s Director (Law and Media).

In the press conference at Chandgaon RAB-7 Media Centre in the city on Wednesday morning, Commander Moin said that eight young men went missing from Cumilla Sadar area on August 23 last year. 

Later, their families filed general diaries at the city’s Kotwali Thana police station. During their investigation, RAB got information about their affiliation with a new militant organisation called 'Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya.'

At the same time, RAB also learned that the members of that organisation were receiving armed training with the help of separatist organisations in Chattogram Hill Tract area.

Based on the information, the elite force conducted an operation and arrested 10 people including seven members of the newly launched militant outfit and three members of Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) from Bandarban and Rangamati. 

Since then, RAB has conducted dozens of operations across the country and arrested more than 30 members of the militant outfit as well as the separatist organisation. 

“We’ve arrested five members of the new militant outfit during an operation in Bandarban’s Rowangchhari  and Thanchi on January 11,” Commander Moin said.

“On January 23, we arrested the head of the military wing, Ranbir --  also a Sura member in the militant organisation --  and the explosives expert, Bashar, from an area adjacent to the Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar,” he said.

RAB has so far arrested 55 members and leaders of Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya. At least 17 members of KNF, which is based in the Chattogram Hill Tract, were also arrested for assisting the militants in training and other activities in the hills.