Gazipur, Jan. 23 -- At least 35 people were detained in overnight special raids conducted by the Task Force in the Ershad Nagar and Haji Mazar slum areas of Tongi in Gazipur ahead of the national elections, officials said.

During the operations, the authorities also recovered one kilogram of heroin, 347 Yaba tablets, domestic weapons, and three hand grenades, District Administration Executive Magistrate Abu Bakkar Siddique said.

The detainees were later handed over to Tongi East and West police stations. They will be formally produced in court later in the afternoon, the magistrate added.

Magistrate Siddique, who led the raids, said the operations were carried out with the cooperation of the army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel...