Security forces on Tuesday arrested nine more suspected members of the ethnic armed group Kuki-Chin National Front during their ongoing joint operation in Bandarban following the recent incidents of bank robberies, arms snatching, and abduction.聽
The Inter Services Public Relations directorate confirmed the arrests, saying that the KNF members were arrested with nine firearms.
With them, the security forces have so far arrested 58 people in their joint operation in connection with the incidents.
The police have separately arrested 14 others.
Police officials in Bandarban district said that a total of nine cases were filed in Ruma and Thanchi upazilas following the incidents of robberies, arms looting, and abduction between April 2 and 3.
Hossain Md Raihan Kazemy, additional superintendent of police (administration) in Bandarban, said on Tuesday that they could arrest a local pick-up van driver named Kafil Uddin Sagar, 28, who drove KNF members during a bank robbery in Thanchi on April 3.
He said that more than 90 people participated in the series of incidents.
On April 2, the armed group tried to loot Tk 1.5 crore from the vault of Sonali Bank鈥檚 Ruma upazila branch. In failure, they kidnapped the branch manager, Nizam Uddin.
They also carried out robberies at Sonali Bank and Krishi Bank branches in Thanchi upazila of Bandarban on April 3.
They looted at least 12 firearms, 400 bullets, and Tk 17 lakh in cash during the attacks in Ruma and Thanchi.
On April 4, abducted bank manager Nizam was rescued from the Bathel Para area of Bandarban through the mediation of the Rapid Action Battalion.
The International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission, in a press statement on Tuesday, urged the Bangladesh security forces to refrain from giving collective punishment to unarmed civilians of the Bawm community in the wake of the latest incidents of bank robberies and arms looting.
The organisation urged the Bangladesh authorities to halt human rights violations, and release innocent civilians immediately.