Most of remote shoals in the three districts are safe dens of the outlawed activists, local people said.

They said once cadres of six outlawed parties like Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), Biplobi Communist Party (BCP), New Biplobi Communist Party (NBCP), Purba Banglar Communist Party (Janajuddha faction), Shramajibi Mukti Andolon and Sarbahara Party (Siraj Shikder) were active in the areas. They went into hiding following the Clean Heart Operation and peace prevailed in the areas.

At present, they started coming back in their previous dens and started their organisational activities in full swing due to lack of vigilance by the law enforcement agencies, it is alleged.

Reliable sources said, Raiganj, Tarash, Naogaon, Belkuchi, Chowhali, Shahzadpur in Sirajganj, Singra, Gurudashpur in Natore, Bera, Ataikula, Shathia, Shujanagor, Bhangura, Athoria, Chatmohor in Pabna district are now safe havens of the outlawed activists.

During a recent visit to different areas in the three districts, local people told this correspondent outlaws stay hiding at day-time in guise of labourers, businessmen or professionals in villages while at night they come out and do their organisational activities.

Most of them are conducting robberies while others are involved in collecting illegal toll.

A businessman, on condition of anonymity, told this correspondent most of the outlaws are now busy to collecting illegal toll from different rich farmers, teachers, businessmen and other professionals. The victims are murdered for non- fulfillment of demand.

Police sources said that law enforcers are passing days in fear of attack of outlaws. Recently they attacked Bamihal outpost in Natore district.

Outlaws who were arrested from different places as well as after killing of Ansars and arms looting at Bamihal outpost that looting of arms are their main target.

Police sources said, many police stations, outposts and camps are in bad shape and vulnerable. Of these, Tarash, Raiganj, Solonga, Enayetpur police stations, Natuarpara and Hatikumrul outpost of Sirajganj are most vulnerable.

Policemen are also suffering from manifold problems like lack of necessary logistics, inadequate manpower, crisis of sophisticated arms and ammunition including accommodation problem.

Most of police outposts are in virtually unprotected buildings. There are no strong rooms for keeping arms. Natuarpara outpost has no boundary wall for protection became vulnerable to attack by outlaws.

Besides, most of police stations and outposts are being run by Ansar personnel due to lack of sufficient policemen, sources added.