Relatives of five crossfire victims term it cold blooded murder
Our Correspondent, Kushtia
Relatives of five outlaws, who were killed in a 'shootout' with police at Baruria village in Kumarkhali upazila Wednesday night, termed the incident a cold blooded murder. They talked to journalists while receiving the bodies on Thursday, but declined to be named. They said Kumarkhali police arrested them in a hideout at the village on Sunday night and killed them. The outlaws are Helal Uddin Swapan of village Paikepara, Babu alias Pota and Mafikul of village Charpara in Kumarkhali upazila, and Mofa and Azibar of village Nagarmohammadpur in Sadar upazila. Swapan was a top leader of Gono Mukti Fouj (GMF). Ousted by his rival group, he later formed a gang styled 'Swapan Bahini.' He was wanted in at least 10 cases including six for murder. Sources said Gama, an accused in at least 15 murder cases, joined hands with some ruling party leaders, including a lawmaker in the district, to kill Swapan. Being informed by Gama's men, police raided the village and arrested the outlaws. One sten gun, one swan-off rifle, one revolver and 200 bullets were recovered from their possession, the sources said. The arrested outlaws were quizzed at Kumarkhali Police Station on Monday and Tuesday. Later, police killed them under pressure from the ruling party men, the relatives said. However, they admitted the involvement of the five in various crimes including murder, extortion and abduction. When contacted, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Kumarkhali Police Station told that they countered only when the gang attacked them.
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