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8 militants arrested in Bangladesh ahead of elections

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-26 14:07

DHAKA -- Bangladesh's law enforcers in separate raids on Wednesday and Thursday arrested 8 militants with huge explosives in Gaibandha district, 268 km northwest of capital Dhaka.

SM Moniruzzaman, superintendent of Police of Gaibandha district, was quoted Friday by leading newspaper The Independent as saying, "We arrested a total of 8 JMB members, the banned Islamic militant outfit, from different parts of Gaibandha district along with a huge quantity of bomb and grenade making equipment and 50 case of grenades."

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"At least 500 grenades could be made using the seized equipment, " he said.

"Several teams of the law enforcers are now conducting raids at different parts of Gaibandha and its joining districts for nabbing the remaining other JMB members," he said, adding that the grenades were being made possibly for some 'special mission'.

The 9th parliamentary elections will be held on December 29, 2008. The government has sent 50,000 security forces including military and paramilitary troops to patrol across the country to maintain peace and order for the upcoming elections.