Gunfire erupts during operation in Jungle Salimpur, five arrested

Police arrested five associates of top criminal Mohammad Yasin after armed criminals opened fire during a police operation in the remote hilly area of Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda, Chattogram, on Thursday.

The incident occurred around noon when the criminals opened fire after sensing the presence of law enforcement during the operation. No casualties were immediately reported.

Chattogram Police Superintendent Masud Alam said police were conducting an operation against criminals in Jungle Salimpur when the armed group opened fire after learning about the law enforcement presence.

Later, police conducted a follow-up operation and arrested five associates of Yasin. A foreign-made pistol, a shotgun and 16 rounds of ammunition were recovered from their possession, police said.

According to police sources, the operation was launched based on specific information about the presence of armed criminals and the stockpiling of weapons in the remote hilly area. Sensing the police presence, the criminals opened fire and attempted to hide deeper inside the hills.

Police and local residents said several armed groups have long been active in the hilly areas of Jungle Salimpur over land grabbing, hill cutting, plot sales and establishing control. Yasin's group is considered one of the prominent groups, while local sources said the Alinagar area was under Yasin's control.

Earlier, on March 9, 2026, a joint operation involving around 3,200 members of the Army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was conducted in Jungle Salimpur. A total of 22 people were arrested during the operation, while several top criminals, including Yasin and Rokon Uddin, managed to flee.

- MaT