FROM PAGE 1

the attack as meticulously planned.

Roads leading into the hilly terrain were dug up at three points to trap security forces inside and block reinforcements. Gunfire erupted from tin-shed houses on an adjacent hilltop, with barrels thrust through holes in the walls.

The Rab commander said the attackers fired weapons resembling AK rifles, forcing law enforcers to retaliate. No casualties were reported among the joint forces.

“The criminals pinned our personnel down with gunfire and seized the chance to vandalise the camp,” said Lt Col Hafizur.

Chattogram Superintendent of Police Masud Alam said joint forces used shotguns, Chinese rifles, and tear gas. “Police fired a total of 104 rounds. Due to strong resistance, the attackers failed to enter the camp.”

The brazen overnight attack comes just days ahead of the home minister’s scheduled visit on May 31 to inaugurate the now-destroyed camp.

Lt Col Hafizur said a temporary security camp was being built at the far end of the Alinagar school compound, and about 90 percent of the work had already been completed. “The structure was almost entirely demolished.”

Earlier on March 9, joint forces seized control of much of Jungle Salimpur in a large-scale operation that had driven out the Yasin Bahini without resistance.

Following yesterday’s attack, several suspects have been detained while joint forces -- including BGB and army personnel -- have launched sweeping operations to regain control of Jungle Salimpur.

Chattogram SP Masud and Rab-7 chief Lt Col Hafizur are leading the operation.

Witnesses reported hearing the exchange of gunfire echoing through the hills for hours.

Yasmin Akhter of Alinagar said, “I was preparing for Tahajjud Namaz around 1:00am when I first heard the gunshots. We immediately locked our doors and windows. The gunfire went on for hours before falling silent around 3:00am.”

She added that Rab men stormed her house in the morning, detained her son and husband on suspicion of being attackers and took them away to the camp for interrogation.

Another resident, Nasima Akhter, gave a similar account, saying her brother and husband were also detained.

Jungle Salimpur spans around 1,256 acres of hilly land under Salimpur union in Sitakunda, about five kilometres from Chattogram city.

Law enforcers say the area has long served as a safe haven for criminal groups because of its difficult terrain and isolation

According to district administration officials, around 3,070 acres of khas land lie under five mouzas -- Jungle Latifpur, Jungle Salimpur, Jungle Bhatiyari, Jalalabad and Uttar Pahartali -- nearly 30 percent of which is hilly terrain.

Authorities say several armed groups operate in parts of the area, including gangs led by Yasin and Rokonuddin, who reportedly maintain armed followers.

The groups are accused of cutting hills, occupying public land and developing illegal housing plots, which they later sold to buyers, earning crores of taka over the past two decades.

In the Alinagar and Chinnomul areas, Yasin is widely known as the “king”.

On October 4 last year, one person was beaten and hacked to death, and at least 14 others were injured in a clash between two groups over supremacy in Jungle Salimpur. The following day, two television journalists were attacked while reporting on the violence.