Members of Bangladesh Army in separate drives detained nine people with illegal firearms from Tongkaboty union in Bandarban Sadar upazila on Friday morning. Among the arrestees, one was identified as Anand Mohan Chakma, 72, who is identified as an extortionist in the area. Bangladesh Army in its verified Facebook post said that Ghazalia Army under Bandarban Army Region conducted two separate drives at Punarbasan Chakma Para and Emmanuel Tripura Para of the union and arrested the nine suspected terrorists with the illegal arms.
They seized four locally-made shotguns, one semi-auto rifle, two gun barrels, lethal weapons and various important items, including Android tab, used for extortion, it added. Meanwhile, during initial interrogation, it was found that the arrestees collects extortion from the general public on behalf of an armed group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
The process of handing over the arrestees to Bandarban Police Station is underway. The Army said such activities to maintain stability in the Chittagong Hill Tracts will continue in the future.