CHITTAGONG: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel raided the den of land-grabbers in Jangal Salimpur hills in Sitakunda upazila on Tuesday morning and arrested 16 persons of the gang, including the ringleader, along with a cache of arms.

Chief of Chittagong RAB Lt. Col. Sajjad Hossain told banglanews24.com.bd that the drive was conducted to reclaim the hills of Sitakunda from the clutches of the “illegal occupiers”.

During the drive, the crime-busters also recovered 17 firearms and some lethal weapons from their possession, he said.

The arrested persons include Yakub, the chief of the band of brigands styled ‘Yakub bahini’, his bodyguard and two women.

RAB Captain Tamzid told banglanews24.com.bd Yakub and his cohorts mainly occupy the khas lands of the hills and sell those out.

The Yakub group became active and spread their tentacles over the forestlands after the chieftain of Akkas group, Akkas, was killed in a gunfight with RAB on May 24.

Earlier, the ‘Akkas bahini’ had reigned supreme over the hill jungles in the area.

Reports are rife about grabbing hills and forestlands by many influential in the greater Chittagong region—a cause of concern about environmental disasters.

There have been protests by greens against indiscriminate hill cutting and denuding of hill forests by gobblers. The government also recently ordered ruthless action against such offences.      

BDST: 1254 HRS, JULY 20, 2010