RAJSHAHI, Apr 9 (UNB): Twenty-four suspected cadres of outlawed Sarbahara group and Islamic militant Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were arrested in a special crackdown on them in Bagmara Upazila early Thursday. Police said a "listed Sarbahara cadre" and a JMB man were among the arrested persons.Bagmara thana OC Shahabuddin Khalifa said police arrested them conducting an overnight operation against Sarbahara and JMB extremists as the two leftist and rightist groups got going again "through regrouping gradually" in the area. "There were cases against the arrested persons in the past," police said, adding that they were being interrogated.
Besides, police also arrested two persons with weapons in Durgapur Upazila. They are Abdul Mannan, 28, son of Abu Taher, and Rahidul Islam, 26, of Singa village.
The special drive was launched Wednesday night as "law-and-order situation might deteriorate due to increase in terrorist activities", police sources said.
Bagmara once was a stronghold of Sarbahara and JMB militants wherein the then JMB leader Bangla Bhai, later executed, had carried out a violent vigilant drive to root out the outlaws in 2004.