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Shaekh Abdur Rahman

Shaekh Abdur Rahman

Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh

Bangladesh

20060130

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Bangladesh

Another JMB kingpin held

2010-06-07

[Bangla Daily Star] Detective branch (DB) of police arrested another top leader of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh from the city's Sabujbagh on Saturday. On secrete information, a DB team arrested Shahed bin Hafiz from a road at Bashabo in the afternoon. Shahed was a member of the JMB's first Majlish-e-Shura (highest decision-making body of the outfit), DB assistant commissioner Rafiqul Islam, who led the drive, told The Daily Star yesterday. "Shahed was appointed as one of the six shura members at a meeting in which executed JMB chief Shaekh Abdur Rahman was appointed as the amir (chief)," said Rafiqul after primary interrogation. Other shura members were Nasrullah of Thakurgaon, Rakib Hossain Russell alias Hafez Mahmood of Jamalpur, Alamgir Hossain Rana, Salahuddin alias Salehin of Mymensingh and Khaled Saifullah. Shahed got introduced with two other executed JMB leaders Ataur Rahman Sunny and Khaled Saifullah while he was studying at Mohammadia Arabia Madrasa at Jatrabari in the city. The two introduced him with Abdur Rahman and in no time Shahed became a trusted member of JMB. Son of Hafizar Rahman of Pakulla village of Sonatola upazila in Bogra, 40-year-old Shahed has a cloth shop, Classic Fashion, at New Market in the town. DB officials said they also collected Shahed's several photographs that show that he is an expert in martial art. Shahed's arrest came after a couple of weeks into the arrest of JMB supremo Moulana Saidur Rahman with his wife and three other JMB leaders from Dhaka and Narayanganj.

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Bangladesh

JMB chief Saidur held

2010-05-26

[Bangla Daily Star] Police have arrested JMB chief Maulana Saidur Rahman, his wife and three other top leaders of the banned Islamist outfit. They made the arrests in the capital and Narayanganj on Monday and early yesterday. Besides Saidur alias Zafar, the others detained are his third wife Naima Akhter, JMB's military coordinator Amir Hossain alias Sharif and ehsar (full-time) members Nur Hossain alias Sabuj and Abdullah Hel Kafi. During the raids, the cops recovered a huge cache of bomb-making materials, firearms and ammunition and jihadi books. The arrestees except Naima were paraded before the media at the police headquarters yesterday afternoon. There, Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad said several militant organisations are still operative in the country and they might have an alliance. Replying to a query, he said that since militancy is now a global phenomenon, Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh might have connections with militant groups in neighbouring countries. He also said they are trying to gather if JMB has a suicide squad. The police chief claimed they arrested Saidur, his wife and ehsar member Abdullah Hel Kafi at a house in the city's East Dania on Monday night. A team drawing members from the police headquarters, DMP, SB, Criminal Investigation Department and Detective Branch conducted the swoops, he added. Some sources in law enforcement agencies however say police arrested the JMB chief at least three days before they made the news public yesterday. Additional IGP (admin) NBK Tripura, Special Branch (SB) chief additional IGP Zaved Patwary, additional IGP (rector) Naim Ahmed and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque were present at the press conference. A handout issued by the police headquarters later said military wing coordinator Amir Hossain alias Sharif and ehsar member Nur Hossain were picked up from Sharif's house at Painadi in Narayanganj early yesterday. A live bomb fitted to a belt usually worn by suicide squad members, several belts, one pistol, two magazines, hand-made bullets and a huge amount of explosives and bomb-making equipment were recovered from Sharif's house and a large stash of leaflets and jihadi books from Saidur's possession. Saidur took over as JMB boss in February 2006, shortly after the arrest of Shaekh Abdur Rahman, the then JMB supremo. The same month that year, Rapid Action Battalion raided his Shibganj house in Sylhet and recovered huge explosives. Saidur had long been on the run. In absentia, he had been sentenced to 14 years in jail in an explosives case. The IGP said JMB's organisational strength had waned much after the execution of Shaekh Abdur Rahman and other top brass. But in recent months, the organisation has been regrouping its cadres. Since the serial blasts across the country in 2005, the law enforcers arrested over 600 JMB leaders and activists. Of them, Shaekh Abdur Rahman, his deputy Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, Rahman's brother Ataur Rahman Sunny, brother-in-law Abdul Awal, suicide bomber Iftekhar Hasan Mamun and Majlis-e-Shura member Khaled Saifullah were executed on March 29, 2008 for killing two Jhalakathi judges on November 14, 2005.

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Bangladesh

Raid raid JMB chief's flat

2010-05-25

The flat raided by law-enforcers Sunday night was a den of banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh and the arrestee was its military wing chief Shiblu, claimed police. Police have picked up Shiblu's parents and two siblings for squeezing quizzing and recovered nine more homemade grenades from the flat. Additional Superintendent of Police Zannatul Hasan of the police headquarters said they had information that Shiblu took over the charge of JMB explosive unit after the arrest of former chief Boma Mizan last year. He said Shiblu set up his den there to make explosives for JMB, which is trying to regroup again. Sources say that a 21-member team consisted of police headquarters, Kadamtoli police and Special Branch of police raided the flat to capture Maulana Saidur Rahman, the current JMB chief. Detained Shiblu, however, identified himself as Abu Bakkar Siddique and an operative of banned Islamist outfit Harkatul-Jihad (Huji). Either way he's a dead man walking ... Zannatul, who led the operation Sunday, told The Daily Star that the name of detained JMB explosive unit chief might be Abu Bakkar Siddique but he took the pseudonyms Nazrul alias Shiblu in his organisation. The JMB version of a cut-out? Shiblu was undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital with burn injuries. He was wounded when a homemade grenade exploded in his hands as he was trying to flee by hurling grenades and firing shots at the police Sunday night. The police were raiding the JMB den at South Dania. Burned hands? That's gotta hurt. Always the chance for sepsis ... It appears the Bangladeshi bomb-makers are as incompetent as the Pakistani ones. Djinn-based chemistry fails again. Rab Director (intelligence wing) Lt Col Ziaul Ahsan, however, said as per the information they have, there is no one named Abu Bakkar Siddique or Shiblu at the helm of the military wing of JMB. "If he is taken in TFI [taskforce interrogation cell] for interrogation, we would be able to confirm the identity," he said. Right before they shoot him ... "Who was that incompetent bomb maker?" asked the awed crowd. Additional SP Zannatul reiterated that they had information that JMB operatives have been regrouping again to carry out subversive activities and Shiblu was the chief of the explosives unit. At least 10 people including eight policemen and Shiblu were injured during the raid at the den on the second floor of a four-storey building at Shahjalalbagh of South Dania. Three other militants escaped by hurling bombs at law enforcers. The police also recovered books on jihad and pamphlets that mentioned the name of executed JMB chief Shaekh Abdur Rahman, sources said. Rab and police sources said executed Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai was the first military wing commander of JMB. After Bangla Bhai became the second-in-command of the militant organisation, JMB chief executed Shaikh Abdur Rahman's brother Ataur Rahman Sunny was given the charge of the military wing. Sunny was arrested on December 14, 2005, and Mizan alias Boma Mizan took over the charge. After Mizan's arrest on May 15, 2009, Shiblu took up the job, said sources. Rab officials said Maulana Saidur Rahman took the outfit's helm after Abdur Rahman and five others were executed in 2006. Those burnt hands suggest the Rab have gotten inside the JMB's training cycle. Well done, lads!

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Bangladesh

4 JMB men jailed

2009-10-12

[Bangla Daily Star] A court here yesterday sentenced five years' rigorous imprisonment each to four members of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in an explosives case filed with the Cox's Bazar Police Station. The convicted were JMB Chittagong divisional chief Javed Iqbal alias Mohammad, its explosives expert Zahidul Islam alias Boma Mizan, Ayub Ali alias Abu Jar and Naimuzzaman alias Shohag. Judge Shafiqul Karim of Chittagong Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal also penalised each with a fine of Tk 5,000 in default of which they will have to suffer another year's imprisonment. According to the deposition of the case, police arrested Ayub Ali with 53 types of explosives in his possession Fifty three seems like rather a lot... at a rental house in Nur Para under Cox's Bazar headquarters on December 11, 2005. The mills of justice grind slowly... In this connection, Sub Inspector Abul Hashem of Cox's Bazar Police Station filed a case under Special Powers Act 1974 on December 13 accusing seven persons, including JMB chief Shaekh Abdur Rahman, its military chief Ataur Rahman Sunny and Mashiur Rahman alias Milon. Police submitted the charge sheet of the case on February 28, 2007 and the charge was framed on March 31 this year. Abdur Rahman and Sunny have already been executed, and Mashiur Rahman was exempted from the case. Public Prosecutor Ayub Khan said the accused confessed that they stockpiled the explosives to attack on Brac, other NGO offices and churches. "It was them damned kufrs, y'r honer -- they wuz askin' fer it! Whut's a good Muslim t'do?" The court delivered its verdict yesterday after hearing 18 witnesses, he added. With this verdict, the JMB Chittagong divisional chief Mohammad is awarded 229 years' imprisonment. So much for getting to know the grandchildren.

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Bangladesh

JMB offshoot leader Selim arrested

2009-07-08

[Bangla Daily Star] A joint team of Rab and BDR yesterday arrested Selim alias Saifullah, second-in-command and military affairs commander of JMB's new offshoot Islam O Muslim, at Belpara in Chapainawabganj. Selim was arrested after an exchange of gunshots with the forces and he sustained a bullet wound in his leg, said Rab sources. "Feets, don't fail me..BANG!...Ouch!" They also recovered a pistol, nine bullets, three bullet shells and two empty magazines from the scene and his possession. No shutter gun, that'll show up around 4 AM when they take him for a "ride". Immediately after the arrest of Islam O Muslim chief Abdur Rahman alias Shahadat, Selim fled to India. An intelligence agency finding out that he was back in Bangladesh informed Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) that he was hiding at his father-in-law's in Belpara, Shibganj. Rab and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) team surrounded the house of Selim's in-laws around 1:00pm. Selim fired three shots at the team in a bid to avoid arrest and the team retaliated with five shots. Guess they're better shots. In a press conference last night, Director of Rab-5 Lt Col Israt Hossain said, "Selim, expert in light weaponry, used to collect arms for JMB." He said Rab tracked Selim down based on Boma Mizan's confessional statement. Arrested Islam O Muslim chief Abdur Rahim alias Shahadat and two of his associates also confirmed Selim's position in the new offshoot, said Lt Col Israt. Pliers and truncheons will do that. While describing the arrest, Rab officials said Selim used to go to India frequently. He used to provide Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj JMB and its new offshoot with arms. Ah, I sense a late night trip looking for arms caches in his short future. After the execution of JMB top leaders Shaekh Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai, JMB leaders were divided over ideological, economical and different other issues. The Rajshahi Rab chief said, "The divided leaders later formed new outfits and were engaged in recruiting fresh members across the country." Shahadat and Selim were trying to reorganise the inactive JMB members across the country under the new banner of Islam O Muslim, sources said. "Join our team, plenty of spots available for advancement due to unexpected vacancies" Meanwhile, police yesterday arrested Nazmul Haque Tuhin, a convicted JMB member as he came out of Rajshahi Central Jail on a High Court bail. "Naz, nice to see you again. Youse coming with us." Tuhin, 34, of Harail in Joypurhat Sadar, was sent to jail after he surrendered before a court on October 12, 2005. He was later convicted in a case filed in connection with the August 17, 2005 serial blasts and sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment by a Rajshahi court. Talking to the press, Tuhin protested his innocence and said he was framed by a businessman who had strong ties with some rogue policemen.

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Bangladesh

Rohingya rebels trained JMB men

2009-05-19

Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) had close links with Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), an insurgent group in the Myanmarese state of Arakan, JMB explosives expert 'Boma Mizan' revealed in interrogations. Sources close to Rab interrogators said Mizan and some other JMB operatives received training from RSO arms experts in a camp near Myanmar border in 2002. Now executed JMB chief Shaekh Abdur Rahman sent them for the training. In exchange for arms training, JMB's explosives experts trained RSO men to improvise and detonate bombs and grenades. Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami (Huji) Bangladesh, another outlawed Islamist outfit, too had strong connections with RSO. Officials from the police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and some intelligence agencies have been interrogating Mizan, who is on a seven-day remand after being captured by Rab on May 14. The sources said JMB military wing's former chief Ataur Rahman Sunny and activist Galib are among those trained by arms experts of the Rohingyan outfit. Sunny was executed in March 2007 along with five other militant kingpins including his brother Abdur Rahman and JMB operations commander Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai. Galib is behind bars. "Mizan said their training from RSO was conducted somewhere in Chittagong hill tracts and lasted 10 days. He did not give anymore details," an investigator told The Daily Star in return for anonymity. Mizan and the others, who took training from RSO, later trained JMB operatives across the country, said the investigator. Shaekh Abdur Rahman himself would used to liaise with RSO. He would also maintain ties with Huji. Some persons claiming to be former Huji men told this correspondent that in the late 80s and 90s many of their fellow operatives took arms training from Rohingya rebels. They said the RSO men trained the Huji operatives in greater Chittagong, particularly in deep forest of the hill districts. RSO had some make-shift camps for their shelter and training. A good number of RSO-trained Huji cadres went to Arakan to fight for the Rohingyas, they added. Sources said Huji took RSO help in securing weapons as well as funds. The Rohingyan group had extensive supplies of arms, and for funds it would count on a number of Muslim-majority countries especially those in the Middle East.

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Bangladesh

Faisal brought to Dhaka for TFI quizzing

2009-04-18

[Bangla Daily Star] Bangladesh-born British citizen and founder of Green Crescent charity and NGO Faisal Mostafa and his associate Hasan Saifuddin Badal were yesterday brought to Dhaka for interrogation by the Task Force Intelligence (TFI) cell. They were placed on a fresh 10-day remand on Thursday after the first phase remand. Investigation Officer of the cases SI Rafiqul Islam told The Daily Star that they sent Faisal and Badal from Bhola under strict security yesterday morning. Sources said Faisal has close links with outlawed Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and had met executed JMB supremo Shaekh Abdur Rahman several times. He kept contact with Saidur Rahman, the absconding chief of the militant organisation. "With a PhD in chemistry, Faisal has vast knowledge on how to make explosives and bullets. We suspect the JMB cadres might have been taught the skills," another investigator told The Daily Star asking anonymity. Investigators said they believe the British chemist, who had faced terror charges twice in the UK, might even have been providing funds and logistic supports for JMB's regrouping. Both Faisal and Badal were arrested at Pubail in Gazipur on April 6 following an exclusive discovery of a 'mini-ammunition factory' at a madrasa-cum-orphanage in Bhola on March 24. Rapid Action Battalion seized 10 firearms, 2,500 bullets, 3,000 grenade splinters, 200 grams of gun powder, different components of ammunition and 72 books on jihad, Abul Ala Maududi and Osama bin Laden.

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Bangladesh

Faisal now admits ownership of arms

2009-04-16

[Bangla Daily Star] Bangladesh-born British citizen Faisal Mostafa who initially denied having any firearms and ammunition seized from Green Crescent Madrasa in Bhola admitted that he owns some of the firearms. "Initially Faisal told us that he does not know anything about the firearms and ammunition but now he admitted to have some of the arms," said an investigator tasked with investigating the arms haul from the madrasa at Ramkeshob village in Borhanuddin upazila. Investigators, however, suspected that Faisal, now on a 10-day remand, stockpiled all the firearms, ammunition and explosives either to train up militants or to supply those arms and explosives for militant attacks. Investigators have already found Faisal's close links with banned Islamist outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh. Faisal had met executed JMB supremo Shaekh Abdur Rahman several times, and kept in contact with Saidur Rahman, now-on-the-run boss of the militant organisation. "We suspect him as a high-profile militant. He has knowledge about most of the militant attacks in Bangladesh," the investigator said wishing anonymity. Faisal, founder of the madrasa, and his close associate Hassan Saifuddin Badal, who was also taken on a 10-day remand, were sent to Borhanuddin yesterday as their current remand will expire today. The investigator said the duo might be produced before a Bhola court today. He said fresh remand would be sought for them for further interrogation. Faisal, founder of Green Crescent charity and NGO, was picked up along with his close associate Badal from Pubail in Gazipur on April 6 in connection with the arms haul from his madrasa. On March 24, Rapid Action Battalion unearthed the 'mini-ammunition factory' inside the madrasa-cum-orphanage and seized 10 firearms, 2,500 bullets, 3,000 grenade ball splinters, 200 gram gun powder, different parts of ammunition and 72 books on jihad, Abul Ala Maududi and Osama bin Laden.

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Bangladesh

FaisalŽs JMB link found in probe

2009-04-14

[Bangla Daily Star] Bangladesh-born British citizen Faisal Mostafa, now detained in Dhaka, has close links with banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, said investigators. He had met executed JMB supremo Shaekh Abdur Rahman several times, and kept in contact with Saidur Rahman, now-on-the-run boss of the militant organisation. On quite a few occasions, Saidur visited Faisal's Green Crescent madrasa-cum-orphanage at Ramkeshob village in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola, where the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) discovered a mini-munitions factory and seized a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives on March 26. Former ameer of Habiganj district Jamaat-e-Islami, Saidur took up the JMB baton after its six top leaders including Rahman and his deputy Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai were executed in March 2007.

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Bangladesh

Five JMB men charged with attack on Prof Humayun Azad

2007-11-16

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday pressed charges against five JMB men including executed militant leaders Shaekh Abdur Rahman and his brother Abdur Rahman Sunny in a case for assaulting late litterateur Prof Humayun Azad. CID Inspector Kazi Abdul Malek, also investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court against them showing 49 people as prosecution witnesses. However, the names of Abdur Rahman and Sunny, the masterminds of the attack on Prof Azad, were dropped from the charge sheet as they had already been convicted of killing two Jhalakathi judges and put to death. The other accused are Mizanur Rahman Minhaz, Nur Mohammad Shamim and Nur Alam alias Anwar Hossain Shahid. Minhaz is now behind bars while two others are on the run. The IO prayed for issuance of arrest warrants against Shamim and Shahid and order to attach their properties. In a confessional statement on June 3, detained JMB member Minhaz admitted to his direct involvement in the assault on Prof Azad. He said the plan was finalised at Abdur Rahman's Goran residence where Sunny was given the responsibility to execute it. Minhaz along with Shamim and Shahid took position on Bangla Academy premises and attacked Prof Azad in front of Atomic Energy Commission at about 8:15pm on February 27, 2004. After Prof Azad's novel 'Pak Sar Zamin Saad Baad ' was published in a national daily, Abdur Rahman ordered his men to kill the writer, the IO added. Prof Azad died in Germany on August 11, 2004.

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7 JMB cadres surrender in Rangpur

2007-06-15

Seven Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants surrendered at Gangachara Police Station in Rangpur yesterday morning. Meanwhile, charges were framed against a JMB militant while Shaekh Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai were acquitted in connection with a case filed for the bomb blasts in August 17, 2005 in Kishoreganj. Police later showed the seven surrendered militants arrested under section 54 before a magistrate's court in Rangpur. The arrestees were sent to Rangpur Central Jail yesterday afternoon. The JMB militants are Azizul Islam, 22, Azaharul Islam, 22, Johurul Islam, 23, Abdul Baten, 20, and Foyjul Islam, 19, of Kuribishwa under Kolkond union and Ashiqul Islam, 24, and Ibrahim Khalil, 27 of Boraibari under Alambiditor union. Sources said the guardians of the JMB men accompanied them to Gangachara Police Station around 9:00am along with union parishad chairmen of their area. The OC told The Daily Star that they confessed to their earlier involvement with Islami Chhatra Shibir and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. Officer-in-charge (OC) of Gangachara Police Station Bazlur Rashid said during primary interrogation they revealed how they were involved with the militant outfit and why they surrendered. The OC told The Daily Star that they confessed to their earlier involvement with Islami Chhatra Shibir and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. Quoting statements of the JMB men he said Shafiqul Islam, a teacher of a registered non-government primary school at Changmari, had persuaded them to joining JMB with the aim to establish Islamic rule in the country. Realising their error, the JMB men surrendered to police, as they wanted to lead normal lives, Rashid said quoting the militants. The OC said, "We are looking for allegations filed against them with any police station in the country." CHARGE FRAMED AGAINST JMB CADRE Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Mijanur Rahman submitted the charge sheet against JMB cadre Obaidullah Sumon before the Third Additional Sessions Judge's Court in Kishoreganj in connection with the six blasts in Kishoreganj on August 17, 2005. In the charge sheet, JMB chief Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai were mentioned as planners of the attacks but acquitted as they were executed, our Kishoreganj correspondent reports. Sumon was arrested in possession of explosive gel, detonator and explosives at a mosque of Gurui in Nikli upazila in Kishoreganj on September 22, 2005. He is serving a 17-year imprisonment in Kishoreganj Central Jail in an explosives case.

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Thirteen Islamic militants given life term in Bangladesh

2006-05-16

Dhaka - A special court in northern Bangladesh handed down life imprisonment terms to 13 Islamic militants for their involvement in a series of bomb attacks less than a year ago, officials said Monday. All the convicted men are members of the banned Islamic militant group, Jamiatul Mujahideen, which has been blamed for orchestrated blasts across the country on August 17, 2005. Meanwhile in Rajshahi, northern Bangladesh, judge Aminul Islam acquitted 14 others for their role in explosions that killed at least six people dead and injured scores owing to lack of evidence in a verdict announced late Sunday. Four of the convicted were sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia, public prosecutor Ketab Uddin said. The simultaneous terrorist attacks were staged in more than 400 locations across Bangladesh and in Dhaka. The top leaders of the Jamiatul Mujahideen, including its founder and spiritual chief Shaekh Abdur Rahman, and several hundred militant activists were jailed for sedition and the killing of civilians - offences that carry the death penalty in Bangladesh. The militant outfit vowed to set up a hardline Islamic state in predominantly Muslim Bangladesh. In a related development, security forces in the western frontier town of Jhenidah arrested four suspected Mujahideen activists and seized about seven kilogrammes of chemicals used for making bombs, the daily Ittefaq reported Monday. Police said a huge cache of printed publicity material was also seized, the report quoted them as saying.

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