Comilla: No militant was found inside the suspected militant den at Gandhamati in Comilla South Sadar upazila during an operation on Friday afternoon.

However, two powerful bombs, four hand grenades and two suicide vests were found at the hideout during the operation, ‘Strike Out’, said Deputy Inspector General (Chittagong range) of police Shafiqul Islam.

While briefing reporters at the police super’s office at about 4:30pm, he, however, did not announce the end of the drive, saying the bomb disposal unit will enter the house again on Saturday morning.

The DIG said two young men — Roni, 22, and Anas, 25 — rented the ground floor flat on March 1 last.

Roni went of the house at about 10:00am on Wednesday in front of house owner Delwar Hossain when Anas was inside, he said quoting Delwar.

However, Anas fled the house sometime before a team of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit surrounded the building at about 4:30pm on the day, Shafiqul said.

Police said SWAT members entered the ground floor of the building from its roof.

Earlier, sounds of sporadic gunshots were heard in the morning as the law enforcers stormed in the den.

Police said the SWAT members started the operation codenamed ‘Strike Out’ at about 11:00am.

Meanwhile, the local administration imposed section 144 in the area at about 9:00am, said Abdullah Al Mamun, additional superintendent (South) of police.

Based on intelligence information, a team of police cordoned off ‘the militant hideout’ in a three-storey building in the area at about 4:30pm on Wednesday.

All residents of the adjacent houses had also been evacuated.