5 killed in ‘militant den’ raid in Rajshahi

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RAJSHAHI, May 11, 2017 (BSS)- At least five people, including a woman, were reportedly killed and three law enforcers injured during a raid at a suspected militant hideout at Habashpur village under Godagari upazila of the district this morning.

One of the deceased was identified as Sazzad Hossain, owner of the house being used as the militant den. However, identities of other militants couldn’t be known immediately. Police rescued two babies from the house.

Officer-in-charge (OC) of Godagari Police Station Hifzur Alam Munsi told newsmen that the law enforcers cordoned off the tin-shed house since 3:00am suspecting that four to five militants were inside the den.

Being informed, a team of firefighters rushed to the spot and used water cannon to diffuse possible bombs inside the den around 7:50am.

Six ‘militants’ including three women came out of the house wearing suicide vests and reportedly stabbed a fire service official around 8am, triggering a gunfight with the law enforcers.

At one stage, the ‘militants’ exploded suicide vests, leaving four of them including a woman dead on the spot, the OC said.

The OC informed that two police personnel including an ASI and a fire
fighter Abdul Matin were also injured in the bomb attack.

Local administration imposed Section 144 at the place of occurrence and its adjacent areas.