2 held with 8 illegal firearms in Maheshkhali

Police in Cox’s Bazar have arrested two men and seized eight locally made illegal firearms during a search of a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Maheshkhali.

The detainees were identified as Md Rubel Mia, 34, of Patiya in Chattogram, and Manik De, 38, of Maheshkhali.

According to police, the incident occurred around 9:15pm on Saturday when officers spotted a suspicious auto-rickshaw on the road from Adinath Jetty in Chhoto Maheshkhali to Badarkhali. When police signalled the vehicle to stop, the driver halted near Jagannath Pharmacy at Thakurtala intersection.

Four people inside the vehicle reportedly attempted to flee. Police managed to catch two of them, while the other two escaped.

A search of the auto-rickshaw led to the recovery of one locally made rifle and seven single-barrel guns, along with two mobile phones allegedly used by the arrested men.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) and media focal point Md Ahidur Rahman said police were conducting operations to arrest the two fugitives.

Maheshkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdus Sultan said legal action had been initiated against the two arrested men.