The Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) unearthed huge stocks of sophisticated grenades at Jamiatul Ulum Al Islamia Madrasa, established by Hefazat-e-Islam’s nayeb-e- amir Mufti Izharul Islam, at Lalkhan Bazar in the port city on Monday. On receiving the news of an explosion, the law enforcement personnel rushed to the spot and found a large dump of hand grenades in the dormitory of the madrasa.
The police were combing the madrasa till the time of filing of this report at 8pm. So far, three unused grenades have been recovered from the spot and four persons have been arrested in this connection. The law enforcement personnel suspect that more than 100 grenades are still hidden inside the madrasa.
CMP additional commissioner Md Shahidullah said: “We’ve already recovered three live grenades and more than 100 used and defused grenades, along with materials used for making lethal explosives. We’re searching the rooms of the madrasa’s hostel. We’ll conduct raids in other madrasas of the port city.”
“We’ll file cases against those who are involved in manufacturing of explosives and grenades at Jamiatul Ulum Al Islamia Madrasa under the Arms and Explosives Act,” he added.
According to sources, a grenade exploded at the dormitory of the Jamiatul Ulum Al Islamia Madrasa at 11am on Monday. Locals rushed to the spot and tried to help the students. The madrasa authorities, however, told them that a computer had exploded in the dormitory and that no one had been injured in the blast. They even prohibited the locals from entering the madrasa after the blast.
Although the locals left the spot for a brief spell, they came back later and cordoned off the madrasa. Many journalists also rushed to the spot. The students and teachers of the madrasa tried to prevent them from entering the premises of the madrasa. The police came to the spot and entered the dormitory. They discovered that many students in the dormitory had been injured by the grenade blast.
Sources said at least five students sustained critical injuries in the explosion on the first floor of the three-storey dormitory building. Of them, four were arrested from the Halishahar General Hospital and Surgiscope Hospital. One of them was identified as Salman, 28, while the others remained unidentified. Those detained were sent to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.
In the evening, the police conducted a drive at the room and found a number of handmade grenades under the rubble. They cordoned off the area and marked the spots as dangerous. Bomb and explosive experts have been summoned to the spot. CMP commissioner Shafiqul Islam, along with senior officials, visited the spot at around 5pm. He told reporters said that the police found several powerful hand grenades under the rubble. “Some of the grenades have been defused, while some are still active and in a dangerous condition,” he added. “Manufacture of hand grenades on the campus of an educational institute is an alarming matter,” he observed.
On visiting the room, it was found that three ceiling fans have been damaged. The explosion has bent the rods of the windows of the room. Books and other belongings of the students were gutted, while several cracks have developed on the walls of the room.
Madrasa principal Mufti Izhar told journalists that the blast of a laptop charger at the hostel room had triggered the explosion. He denied the allegation that a grenade had exploded. “The police are investigating the matter and everything would be revealed after investigation,” he added.
-With The Independent input
