Joint forces have launched a major operation in Jungle Salimpur

A large-scale operation by joint security forces has been launched in the Jungle Salimpur area of Sitakunda in Chattogram.

About 4,000 personnel from the army, police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) joined the drive, which began around 5:40am on Monday.

Md Russell, additional superintendent of police (media) of Chattogram District Police, said members of the joint forces had started the operation and further details would be shared later. Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the Jungle Salimpur area early in the morning.

Checkpoints have been set up at entry and exit points to prevent suspects from fleeing.

The operation follows the killing of RAB-7 assistant sub-inspector Motaleb Hossain Bhuiya in a militant attack while he was conducting an operation in the forest area on January 19. A case was later filed with Sitakunda Police Station, naming Mohammad Yasin as the prime accused.

The case also names 29 others, including Nurul Haque Bhandari, along with about 200 unidentified suspects. Jungle Salimpur lies in a remote, hilly area near Chattogram city.

Illegal settlements have grown in the area over the past four decades, and criminal groups are believed to have used it as a safe haven. Hills in the area have also been cut to facilitate illegal land trading.

Local sources said two armed groups are active there, reportedly led by Mohammad Yasin and Rokon Uddin.