BANDARBAN, March 13, 2023 (BSS) - Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested nine members, including a training commander, of a militant group Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya during a drive in Tongkaboti area under Sadar upazila of the district on Sunday.

Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of RAB's legal and media wing, revealed the information in a press briefing today.
 
A joint team of RAB conducted the drive and arrested them along with arms and explosives, he said.

The arrested were identified as training commander Md Didar Hossain alias Masum alias Champai 25, son of Abdur Rahim, resident of Cumilla Sadar upazila,  Al Amin Sardar alias Abdullah alias Bahai,29, son of Yunus Sardar, resident of Narayanganj district, Abul Kalam alias Sainoon alias Raihan alias Huzaifa, 21, resident of Kamrangir Char in Dhaka, Tahiyat Chowdhury alias Pavel alias Hafizullah alias Riteng, 19, son of Kamal Ahmed Chowdhury, resident of Bayanibazar in Sylhet district, Lokman Mia,23, son of Abdul Qadir, resident of Shahparan area of Sylhet district, Imran Hossain alias Saitowal alias Shanto, 35,  son of late Abdul Aziz of Laksam in Cumilla district, Md Amir Hossain, 21, son of Anwar Hossain, resident of Court Chandpur in Jhenaidah district, Md Arifur Rahman alias Laileng, 28, son of Farooq Howlader, resident of Barisal district headquarter,  Shamim Mia alias Ramzan alias Baklai,24, son of Ghiyas Uddin, resident of Phulpur in Mymensingh district.

RAB spokesperson Khandaker Al Moin said, guns, firearms, ammunition, explosives making equipment and detonators were recovered from the arrested persons.

He also said that a total of 59 people, including leaders of different levels of neo-militant organizations and seventeen members of the armed separatist group of Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) have been arrested in various operations conducted by RAB.

The RAB official said that their operation would continue until they manage to capture all members of the militant organization Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and other separatist groups.
 
Legal action will be taken against them, he added.