3 ‘robbers’ killed in ‘gunfight’ with Rab

Three alleged Rohingya robbers were killed in a "gunfight" with Rab in Teknaf upazila's Shalbagan hill area yesterday afternoon.

Rab claimed that the deceased include leader of the gang Zakir.

The identity of the two other deceased could not be known immediately.

Rab said one of their personnel was shot during the "gunfight".

 The law enforcers also recovered firearms and ammunition.

Maj Mehedi Hasan, deputy commander of Rab-15 in Cox's Bazar, said following a tip-off, a Rab team raided Shalbagan area around 4:00pm.

Sensing Rab's presence, the gang opened fire on the law enforcers, the major claimed.

The Rab team retaliated with gunfire in self defence, the officer said, adding that the exchange of fire lasted for around an hour.

At one stage, the robbers fled the scene and hid in a forest, the Rab officer added.

Later, the law enforcers recovered the three bodies from the scene.

Rab recovered eight firearms and 25 bullets from the spot.

Deceased Zakir was accused in around 20 criminal cases, including for murder and abduction, Mehedi said.

Talking to The Daily Star, a local said panic gripped the area during the "gunfight". Everybody rushed to take cover.