Staff Correspondent
Three alleged active members of a sabotage network have been arrested in separate raids in Dhaka’s Shahbagh and Paltan areas, with a locally made single-shot firearm, a shotgun cartridge, two knives and other items seized from their possession, the Special Response Battalion (SRB-3) said on Monday.
According to an SRB-3 press release, two of the suspects—Md Arman, 23, and Manik Khan, 23—were arrested during a raid in front of Gate No. 1 of Osmani Memorial Auditorium under Shahbagh Police Station around 9:30pm on Monday.
A locally made single-shot firearm weighing 1.06kg and a green-coloured shotgun lead cartridge were recovered from Arman’s possession, the release said.
Later, at around 9:55pm, SRB-3 conducted another raid inside Matiur Rahman Park under Paltan Police Station and arrested Md Mehedi Hasan, 23.
Acting on information provided by Mehedi, the law enforcers subsequently recovered two knives with wooden handles, five wooden sticks and a steel rod measuring approximately 1.5 feet in length.
The SRB said preliminary interrogation indicated that the three suspects had allegedly been involved in sabotage activities at different times in Shahbagh, Paltan and other important areas of the capital for a long period.
The suspects also allegedly admitted to being organised and active members of the sabotage network, the release said.
According to the SRB, the accused committed offences under Sections 19(A) and 19(F) of the Arms Act, 1878, by possessing locally made weapons in collusion with one another.
Legal action has been taken against the arrested individuals, the SRB said.
