Dhaka, Sept 20: Bangladesh police have seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition, including 130 kg of plastic explosives, 226 grenades and 12 detonator boosters, in a series of raids in the Chittagong hill tracts during which one person was killed. In a joint operation over three days, army and para-military Bangladesh Rifles raided terrorists and criminal bases in Bandarban and Rangamati districts, reports said.
Police raided two terrorists hideouts in the Dochhari forests in Bandarban Thursday night and recovered 130 kgs of powerful plastic explosives, 26 containers of explosives, 226 grenades, 61 M-16 rifle bullets, 18 containers of chemicals, 50 time regulating watch used in explosive device, 12 detonator boosters, 40 battery connectors and a range of other explosives, the daily star reported.
One person was killed during the raid while two were arrested.
Quoting army experts, the report said these arms and ammunition "might have been gathered to launch massive subversive activities".
In another raid in Shilapara area in Rangamati yesterday, security forces seized some arms and documents after a fire fight but failed to capture any gang members.
The raids come on the heels of the arrest of 14 members of Islamic militant outfit Hizbul Towhid on Thursday in Kushtia after a joint raid by police and BDR.
The arrests of ht activists followed an order of September 14 from police headquarters in Dhaka asking all police stations across the country to arrest militants including HT and Islami Biplobi Parishad (revolutionary council) and al Hikma. Bureau Report