103 fresh cocktails recovered from Rajshahi litchi orchard in late-night SRB raid

The Special Response Battalion (SRB) has recovered 103 fresh cocktails in an abandoned state during a raid in the Kashiaydanga Police Station area of Rajshahi metropolis. The explosives were found during a search of a litchi orchard.

The raid was carried out at around 2am on Tuesday night in the orchard at the Aduburi Uporimath area under Kashiaydanga Police Station. During the search in the deep of night, the raiding team noticed a cement sack lying abandoned inside the orchard.

Details of the raid were given in a press release sent from the SRB-5 office on Wednesday morning. The release said the special raid on the litchi orchard was conducted late at night on the basis of specific secret information.

During the search, 103 handmade fresh cocktails were found inside the cement sack. Members of the raiding team then seized the cocktails.

The cocktails were found abandoned at the scene. The press release did not mention anyone being detained from the spot in connection with the incident.

The SRB said that, as part of taking necessary legal action, the recovered cocktails have been handed over to Kashiaydanga Police Station.

At the same time, a general diary (GD) has been filed at the police station concerned over the incident, the SRB said. With that, the incident has been formally recorded in the police station's documents.

The recovery of 103 fresh cocktails at once has drawn attention in the area. The press release did not say who left so many explosives in the litchi orchard or for what purpose.

Handmade cocktails are generally used as explosives, and such a large quantity of explosives stored near a populated area is a matter of security concern. Officials concerned believe a major risk was averted as the raid was carried out in time on the basis of secret information.

As part of the legal process, further action will now be taken through the police station. Work to trace the source of the incident and those involved is expected to proceed on the basis of the GD.

According to the SRB release, the process of recovery and handover has been completed for now. Any further information surrounding the incident will come to light in the course of the legal proceedings.