Teknaf, Dec 19 (V7N) – A special operation by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Rungikhali hills, Hnila Union, Teknaf Upazila, led to a clash with an armed robbery group on Thursday night, during which a substantial amount of weapons, ammunition, mortars, hand grenades, and bomb-making equipment were recovered.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Jasim Uddin, commander of the Ukhiya Battalion (64 BGB), confirmed the incident at 9:30 PM on Thursday. According to BGB sources, several armed gangs had established temporary hideouts in Rungikhali and adjoining hilly areas near Marine Drive in Baharchhara Union. These groups were allegedly involved in kidnapping, disappearances, murder, human trafficking, and cross-border drug and smuggling activities.

The operation began on December 17 at 6:30 PM, following a three-tier strategic plan by a specialized BGB unit. By 10:30 PM, troops detected suspicious movement in Rungikhali hills and encircled the area. When the gang opened fire, BGB personnel returned fire in self-defense, prompting the criminals to flee to adjacent hills, abandoning their hideout.

During a subsequent search, BGB recovered a G-3 rifle with parts and magazines, one shooter gun, an LG shooter gun, an M1 (MK-2 variant), a single-barrel smoothbore gun, three RGS hand grenades, one mortar shell, 17 kilograms of gunpowder, bomb-making materials, indigenous firearms, and 302 rounds of live and spent ammunition.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the recovered weapons were likely used in the gang’s long-term criminal operations along the border. Lieutenant Colonel Jasim Uddin emphasized that the Ukhiya Battalion remains vigilant to ensure national sovereignty and border security and will continue intelligence-based and coordinated operations in the future.

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