Militant couple, 3 of their family killed in ‘suicide blasts’

A militant couple and their three members of their family were killed in a reported suicide blasts when the law enforcers conducted an operation at a suspected militant hideout at Godagari in Rajshahi on Thursday morning.

During the raid, the militants also killed a fire fighter, Abdul Matin, with a sharp weapon, before denoting the explosives to kill themselves at about 8:00am.

Police claimed the deceased are militant Sajjad Ali Mishthu, in his forties, and his wife, Beli Khatun, their son Al Amin, Ashraful Islam, and daughter Karima.

Police also recovered five-year-old boy Zobayer and three-month old girl Afia, who are children of Al Amin.

Two police members including Rajshahi additional superintendent of police (ASP) Shumit Chowdhury injured during the raid.

Matikata union council Chairman Azam Tauhid said Sajjad Ali, the owner of the house, build his abode at Matikata about one and half months back. Earlier, Sajjad along with his family used to stay at his in-laws’ residence at the village of Machhmara.

Shumit Chowdhury said police asked the family to surrender before the law enforcers in the morning, but they did not response. Later, police tried the break the mud walls by throwing water. At one stage, the family members came out of the house carrying sharp weapons and attacked on police. Fire fighter Matin was critically injured during the attack. Later, he was died undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

The ASP said after the attack, the militants denoted suicide bomb and died on the spot.

The police officer said Sumaiya, Sajjad’s daughter, is sitting near the operation spot. The law enforcers asked her to surrender before them.

However, the local administration ban public gathering by imposing Section 144 in the area since at about 9:30am to avoid any untoward incident.

Police said Sumaiya’s husband Juhurul is an active member of banned militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Earlier, he was arrested in the char area of River Padma at Godagari and sent to jail.

The Godagari police Officer-in-charge Hipjur Alam Munshi said based on the information of police headquarters the law enforcers cordoned off the house at the village of Benipur at Habaspur Machhimara under the Godagari upazila of Rajshahi, at about 3:00am on Thursday.

Police launched drive on Thursday morning and later claimed the death of four suspected militants, including a woman.

 
Source: ntvbd