Dhaka: Forensic tests have found that 18 militants, who were killed in anti-terror rescue operations or raids carried out by law-enforcers in recent times in Gulshan and Kallyanpur in the capital as well as Narayangonj, were not on drugs.

The Forensic Department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital recently received the viscera reports of the militants in the first week of this month.

Five militants and one of their suspected associates were killed in a commando operation at Holey Artisan Bakery at Gulshan on July 2 after a 12-hour hostage crisis, nine “militants” were killed during a police operation in the city’s Kalyanpur area on July 26 and Gulshan café attack mastermind Tamim Chowdhury and two other militants were killed during a special police operation, 'Hit Strong', in a den of 'New JMB' in a building of Narayanganj sadar upazila on Saturday morning.

Forensic Department of the DMCH sent samples of their blood, liver, kidney and stomach to the chemical laboratory of Mohakhali to be tested under the supervision of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to confirm whether they took or were given any drugs that influenced their behaviour or augmented energy levels. 

As the nation struggled to come to terms with the atrocities committed by the militants, one theory to explain away their actions that took hold within the population was that they were under the influence of some illegal substance - pure speculation though it was, without a shred of evidence to support it. 

Contacted, Assistant Prof and head of the Forensic Dept of DMCH Dr Sohel Mahmud told UNB that they received the viscera report from the Mohakhali chemical lab on October 3. “There is no evidence of taking drugs by the militants found in the test report.” 

The report thus debunks one of the more spurious theories that unfortunately found some currency thanks to social media mainly.