6 ‘Ansar al Islam members’ held

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-4 has arrested six alleged members of the banned militant outfit Ansar al Islam along with bomb-making manuals.

Based on intelligence surveillance, the elite force conducted separate drives across Dhaka, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Sirajganj, Lalmonirhat and Rajshahi on Wednesday and arrested them, reads a press release issued on Thursday.

The arrestees are: Md Shakil Islam, 19, of Lalmonirhat; Md Ashikur Rahman, 18, of Cumilla; Abu Md Obaidullah, 17, of Kishoreganj; Md Taukir Hossain, 14, of Mymensingh; Arafat Hossain Naeem, 19, of Sirajganj; and Afsanur Rahman Rubel, 31, of Rajshahi.

During preliminary interrogation, they confessed to being involved with the banned organisation Ansar al Islam, claimed RAB, adding that various extremist books, leaflets, bags, and mobile phones were also recovered from their possessions.

Legal action is being taken against those arrested and RAB's intelligence surveillance continues to arrest their other associates, the release added.