Jhinaidah: Two suspected militants were killed in firing as police conducted drive at a reported militant den in the village of Bazrapur at Maheshpur upazila in Jhenaidah early on Sunday.

Three policemen—CTTC Assistant Deputy Commissioner Nazmul Islam, Sub‐Inspectors Mohsin and Mujibur Rahman—sustained injuries during the security operation against the suspected militant hideout. They were admitted to Jessore Medical College Hospital.

The Maheshpur police Officer-in-charge (OC) Ahmedul Kabir said identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. Four people were held during the raid. The raid is still ongoing.

Local administration imposed section 144 at the village in order to ensure security of the villagers.

Fifteen days after the operation ‘Southpaw’ conducted at a militant hideout at Sadar upazila of Jhenaidah, police discovered a suspected militant den at the village of Bazrapur late on Saturday.

A team Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) launched drive at the hideout in the early hours of Sunday.

Firing has been heard as both the law enforcers and the suspected militants opened fire to each other. Two people, including a suspected militant died during the firing.

Operation Southpaw

Earlier, on 21 April, law enforcers condoned off a house of converted Muslim Abdullah at Porahati village suspecting it to be a militant den.

A team of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP started its operation codenamed ‘Southpaw’ on 22 April morning.

Later, the law enforcers concluded the drive at the 'Neo JMB militant hideout' after five hour operation.

During the drive, they recovered four bombs weighing 8-10 kg each, 20 containers of hydrogen peroxide, nine suicidal belts, three suicidal vests, 100 ball bearing, one ricecooker bomb, 16 jihadi books, one motorcycle, one machetes, said deputy inspector general (DIG) of police of Khulna range Didar Ahmed, who led the operation, at a press briefing after the five-hour operation.

Besides, one foreign made pistol, seven bullets, huge electric circuits, explosive substances and bomb-making materials were also found, he said.