Lalbagh police claimed a police team led by its officer-in-charge took Ismail Hossain, also known as Tunda Ismail and placed on remand earlier, to Noor Dairy Farm near Shahidnagar Balurmath to recover his hidden firearms around 3:55am.

Ismail's cohorts ambushed the team trying to snatch him from custody and the police retaliated leading to an encounter when Ismail received bullets, a police press release said. He was taken to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital where on duty doctors declared him dead.

However, Ismail's elder brother Shah Alam said a chairman of Kamrangirchar area who is close to a ruling BNP lawmaker used the police to kill his brother over a land dispute. He also alleged the dispute with the chairman started in 2001 after he bought a piece of land which the chairman also wanted to buy.

"Since then the chairman has been trying to harm us. This time he used police to kill my brother," Shah Alam told reporters at Sir Salimullah Medical College morgue where the body was sent for an autopsy.

Morgue sources said the bore had 15 bullets and it was delivered to them with the fetters on.

Police said they arrested Ismail, an accused in 12 cases including five for murder, on April 18 in Munshiganj and he was placed on a two-day remand in an arms case.

Police said two police constables -- Mahbubul Alam and Nazrul Islam -- sustained critical injuries during the encounter. Police also said they fired 44 bullets during the shootout.

The accomplices of Ismail managed to flee the scene but police recovered two pistols, one magazine and 16 bullets from the spot.

NARAYANGANJ
Police claim Sumon, 28, also known as Phensy Sumon, was killed in 'crossfire' when police and his accomplices exchanged fire in Madanganj area of Narayanganj yesterday, our Narayanganj correspondent reports.

Police said they had arrested Sumon with 48 Phensidyl bottles on Sunday.

They said following Sumon's information a police team along with Sumon tried to raid their den in Madanganj area to arrest his accomplices and recover firearms. But hardly had they reached Madanganj when Sumon's cohorts opened fire on them from their hideout forcing the police to retaliate.

Police claimed during the shootout Sumon tried to escape but he was bullet hit and died on the way to Narayanganj Upazila Health Complex.

The accomplices of Sumon managed to escape leaving behind a foreign-made revolver and seven bullets.

Police said Sumon, son of Hossain Khalifa of Tikkamore area, was accused in several cases including one murder case.