Militants given chance to surrender: IGP

Inspector general of police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque said the militant suspects, who were killed in Narayanganj on Saturday, had been given chance to surrender before the beginning of the operation.

However, he pointed out, the 'militants' opened fire and hurled grenades at the policemen.

The police team, the IGP said, had then gone for all-out operation, which was called "Hit Strong 27".

The police chief made his accounts while talking to newsmen immediately after the operation at a house in Paikpara area of Narayanganj on Saturday morning. Three militant suspects, including Tamim Chowdhury, were killed during the operation.

Shahidul Hoque said he ordered the team to talk to the 'militants' for giving them opportunity to surrender.

"They were asked to raise both of their hands to surrender, had they wanted to, and accordingly come out through the door. But the militants hurled grenade at the police," the IGP said.

"The police team was compelled to to retaliate with gun shots and raid the building," he added.

Shahidul Hoque mentioned that one of the dead is identical to the picture of Tamim Chowdhury, the alleged mastemind of the Gulshan attack. "It's quite apparent that he could be Tamim," he said. The IGP, later, confirmed to Prothom Alo that the dead man is Tamim Chowdhury.

The operation "Hit Storm 27" was conducted by the counter terrorism and transnational unit of the Dhaka metropolitan police (DMP), SWAT and Narayanganj police, he said.

The police chief pointed out that all recent attacks including the one in Gulshan were carried out by the new JMB led by Tamim Chowdhury.

The police also announced reward (an amount of Tk two million) for information that could hav led to the arrest of Tamim Chowdhury.