A group of unruly people opened fire on a newly set up Rapid Action Battalion camp at Jungle Salimpur in Chattogram on early Monday, leaving 10 to 12 members of RAB and police injured.

The attack took place at about 1:00am, prompting a joint force, comprising RAB and police, to launch an operation in the area at about 3:00am, RAB officials aid.

RAB-7 commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Hafizur Rahman said that ‘criminals’ targeted the newly established RAB camp and fired gunshots at it.

‘Ten to twelve members of RAB and police were injured in the attack. Several people were detained in connection with the incident,’ he said.

He said that Yasin and his gang of Jungle Salimpur were involved in the attack.

‘The joint forces cordoned off the area from different sides at about 3:00am. Details will be disclosed after the operation,’ the RAB officer added.

RAB said that roads at several points leading to and from Jungle Salimpur had been cut and several culverts used for movement had also been damaged.

The incident took place amid repeated claims by the authorities that Jungle Salimpur, long known as a den of ‘criminals’, had been brought under control.

The home minister recently told parliament that Jungle Salimpur, once considered ‘a state within the state’, had been brought under full control.

Newly appointed Chattogram superintendent of police Masud Alam, during a visit to Jungle Salimpur and Alinagar areas on May 8, said that police would extend all-out support to local people in carrying out lawful activities.

He also said that police would provide necessary assistance for implementing government development projects in the area and ensure public safety.

‘If you cooperate, no one will be able to do anything here,’ the SP said at the time.

Jungle Salimpur has remained under the control of ‘criminal groups’ for nearly three decades, with hills being razed and the environment badly damaged.

The ‘criminals’ allowed climate-displaced people to build houses on the hills at low cost and established an empire of arms and drugs in the area.

Police said that the government had taken initiatives to build different establishments, including a police training academy and a jail, at Jungle Salimpur.