Bangladesh police raid Rajshahi house, 8 'Neo JMB' members surrender

Eight members of the 'Neo JMB' terror outfit -- all belonging to a single family -- surrendered early on Monday after security forces in Bangladesh cordoned off a house in Rajshahi suspecting it to be a militant den, a media report said.

Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JMB) is an Islamic terrorist organisation operating in Bangladesh.

Those detained have been identified as Ramjan Ali, his wife Ayesha Begum, their two sons -- Ibrahim Hossain and Israfil Hossain, and daughter Hawa Khatun, two daughters-in-law Morzina Khatun and Haresa Khatun, and a son-in-law Rabiul Islam.

The security forces cordoned off the house of Ramjan Ali in Tanore upazila around 11 p.m. on Sunday night following information that Ramjan and his family members are involved in militancy, The Daily Star reported quoting police.

The eight suspected militants along with four children surrendered after a team of counter-terrorism unit from Bogra along with Rajshahi police conducted the drive, said Asaduzzaman, superintendent of police in Bogra.

The law enforcers also recovered two suicide vests, a pistol, six rounds of bullets and a magazine from the house.

"We have handed over the detainees to Rajshahi district police on their surrender," Asaduzzaman said.

Ramjan teaches at Gourangipur Government primary school, Ibrahim is a fertiliser trader, Israfil is a homeopathic doctor and Rabiul is a carpenter.

Rajshahi's Additional Police Superintendent Sumit Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune that the family had kept itself isolated and even used to offer Eid prayers at home.

A top police officer in Rajshahi confirmed to The Daily Star that the detainees are 'Neo JMB' members.

Last reported, the law enforcers were conducting raid in the house till 10 a.m.

--IANS

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