Detectives in a raid at the capital's Uttara Monday night arrested 11 suspected members of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

They claimed that the arrestees were recruiting fresh operatives and collecting funds by robberies and mugging.

Briefing newsmen yesterday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam said they were involved in all sorts of crimes, including mugging and robbery, formoney.

The arrestees are Arif Ibne Khayer alias Rifat, Babu Munsi, Masud Rana, Khorshed Alam, Omar Faruk, Alhaj Mia, Helal Uddin, Abdul Based, Mohammad Sujat, Azhar Ali, Forhad Hossain and Mizanur Rahman.

Jihadi books, explosive materials, sharp weapons, a lock breaking machine and seven mobile phones were seized during the drive.

The DMP official said the arrested JMB men had plans to carry out attacks on VIPs, WIPs and at important estab-

lishments in the country.

They also planned to rob an NGO in Comilla, he added.

After the arrest of JMB chief Saidur Rahman, his son Abu Talha Muhammad Fahim had been leading the organisation as its acting ameer until his detention on April 27.

Monirul said Fahim disclosed the name of one of his associates Rifat who continued organisational activities and recruitment of new members from different districts, including Cazipur, Tangail and Jamalpur.

"Some groups are trying to emerge in the country following the rise of militancy in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. But they failed due to our strong monitoring. The militants have no strong and organised network, and had only been responsible for carrying out some isolated incidents," he claimed.

A case was filed with Uttara West Police Station in this connection.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court yesterday placed the arrestees on two-day remand each.