Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) conducted operation at a suspected militant den at a house of Char Alatoli of Moddho Char under Sadar upazila in Chapai Nawabganj. Director of RAB legal and media wing Mufti Mahmud Khan said, later from the house three scattered bodies were recovered.

A 12 member team of bomb disposal unit from Dhaka is working on the spot.

Mufti Mahmud Khan said, 2 pistols, 3 grenades, 7 detonators and some power gel explosives were recovered from the spot. The dead bodies were yet to be identified. They were planning to carry out large scale sabotage activities in Rajshahi.

Meanwhile, ADG of RAB Anwar Latif reached at the militant hideout in Chapai Nawabganj around 12:30 pm for inspection boarded on a helicopter.

Earlier, bomb disposal team reached at the spot at around 11:30 am on Tuesday. RAB said, two persons rented the house saying that they would take photographs of guest birds in the area.

Acting on a tiff off, RAB cordoned off the house from 4 am on Tuesday. When they went on operation the house was set ablaze following explosion. At one stage firings also were exchanged.

On the other hand, house owner Rashikul, his wife Nazma and father in law of Rashikul were detained for interrogation.

RAB legal and media wing director Mufti Mahmud Khan said, law enforcers were keeping the house under surveillance for some days. Before conducting the operation on Tuesday the suspects inside the house were asked to surrender. But they did not. Later at around 5 am sound of explosion was heard from the house. At that time gunshots were fired from the house also. At one stage the house caught fire.

AH/Y