Huge cache of crude bombs, weapons seized in Shariatpur; 3 detained

Security forces have recovered a large cache of crude bombs (cocktails) and locally made sharp weapons from Shariatpur's Naria upazila in a joint pre-dawn operation, detaining three people in the process.

The raid was conducted early today (2 February) based on the information about the stockpiling of bombs at a house in the Poragachha Bepari Kandi area of Moktererchar union under the upazila.

During the operation, Mehedi Hasan, 25, Bacchu Peda, 60, and Roni Peda, 18, were detained.

A joint team from Naria Police Station and the Bangladesh Army carried out the operation, seizing a total of 95 crude bombs stored in 12 buckets in Peda Mosque and from the houses of Khalil Peda, Jilu Madbar and Bacchu Peda.

Several sharp weapons were also recovered from the scene.

Akhil Ranjan Sarkar, sub-inspector of Naria Police Station, brought the recovered explosives, weapons and detainees to the police station around 8am.

Police said the area has a history of similar incidents. In August last year, 60 crude bombs were recovered from the same locality and later defused by the Anti-Terrorism Unit. 

Moreover, a cocktail explosion in Bilaspur union of the neighbouring Zajira upazila on 8 January this year killed three people.

Over the past three days, law enforcement also recovered 22 cocktails from three other locations in Naria upazila.

SI Akhil said investigations are underway to determine the source of the recovered explosives and identify others involved in the activities. Legal action will be taken against the detainees following further investigation, he added.