Law enforcers picked up four suspected operatives of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in Kachua upazila of Bagerhat early yesterday.

The arrestees are Akash Mollah alias Babu, 19, of Kachua, Habibullah Sheikh, 19, Kabirullah Faraji, 26, and Mizanur Rahman Hawladar, 28, of Sadar, Nazirpur and Mathbaria upazilas of Pirojpur.

A joint team of police and detectives raided a farmhouse of one Safayet Sheikh at Khalishakhali village in Kachua around 2:30am and nabbed the four, reports a correspondent in Bagerhat quoting police officials.

The team also seized a revolver, two bullets, seven empty bullet casings, five crude bombs, five cell phones and a computer from there, said police.

Pankaj Chandra Roy, Bagerhat superintendent of police, said law enforcers raided the farmhouse on information that some 12 JMB operatives would be in a secret meeting there.

As the joint team reached the area, the suspected militants hurled crude bombs at the team, forcing it to retaliate with gunshots, the SP added.

A little later, law enforcers were able to arrest the four when they were trying to flee the area.

Three cops were hurt during the raid. Police were communicating with other law enforcement agencies to know about the arrestees' criminal records, said Pankaj.

TWO 'PICKED UP EARLIER'

Fathers of Kabirullah and Habibullah alleged that a team of Bagerhat police picked up their sons from Pirojpur town around 3:00am on October 14, reports our Pirojpur correspondent.

Talking to The Daily Star, they said they went to Pirojpur Sadar Police Station on the same day to file general diaries, but police refused to record GDs.

Habibullah's father Abdul Hai, a tile fitter, said his son had been staying at a mess in Rajarhat of Pirojpur town for around three months. Riding on eight microbuses, a team of uniformed cops went to the mess and picked up Habibullah.

An SSC examinee from Kiamuddin High School in the town, Habibullah used to run a computer service centre, said Hai, adding that his son did not hang out in bad company.

Kabirullah's father Lokman Faraji lives at a rented house in CO Office area of Pirojpur town. He said law enforcers arrested his son from the house.

The arrestee passed Dakhil exams from Pirojpur Fazil Madrasha around eight years ago. He is an assistant of a lawyer at Pirojpur Judge's Court.