Coast Guard arrests 'Mintu Bahini' chief with cache of arms, ammunition in Cox's Bazar
The 38-year-old, who faces 15 criminal cases, was allegedly operating an illegal arms manufacturing and supply network from a hideout in Maheshkhali.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard has arrested the alleged chief of the notorious Mintu Bahini along with a cache of arms and ammunition during a raid in Cox's Bazar's Maheshkhali early today (17 July).
The arrestee, Imam Hossain Mintu, 38, is a resident of Hoanak under the Maheshkhali Police Station.
During the operation, carried out around 6am at a hideout in the Keruntali area of Hoanak, Coast Guard personnel also recovered firearms, ammunition, locally produced liquor, and equipment allegedly used to manufacture illegal weapons, according to a press release.
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The seized items include five locally made single-barrel guns, nine locally made pistols, a magazine for a foreign-made pistol, 20 live shells, 12 live cartridges, four blank cartridges, one locally made weapon, three litres of locally produced liquor, and various tools used to manufacture firearms, it added.
Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said the raid was carried out after the Coast Guard acted on a tip-off that an armed criminal group had been secretly manufacturing illegal firearms in the hilly Keruntali area and supplying them to different parts of the country.
He alleged that the group was also involved in piracy, attacks on tourists, robbery, and other criminal activities, while intimidating local residents and creating fear in the area.
According to the Coast Guard, Mintu had long led the Mintu Bahini and was involved in various criminal activities.
Fifteen criminal cases have been filed against him, the release mentioned.
Legal proceedings against the accused are underway, while the seized arms and other evidence have been handed over to the authorities concerned for further legal action, it added.
