3 'robbers' killed in 'gunfight' with police

Three robbers, including their ringleader, were killed in a gunfight with police on the Moydapasha river in Koyra upazila yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Abu Syed Morol alias Kalu, 47, the ringleader of Kalu Bahini and son of Shamsur Rahman of Arjunpur village under the upazila; Akbar Ali, 34, son of Dalil Gazi of Gilabari village under the upazila, and Shahidul Mallick, 27, son of Jabbar Mallick of Hogladanga village under Rampal upazila of Bagerhat.

Koyra Police Station Officer-in-Charge Enamul Hoque told this correspondent that, acting on a tip, a team of police conducted a drive in the Moydapasha river around 11:30am yesterday and found the robbers gathered on a boat.

Sensing the presence of police, the robbers opened fire on them, prompting the police to retaliate, triggering a gunfight.

The three robbers died on the spot, and their bodies were sent to Koyra Upazila Health Complex.

Eight police members were injured and took primary treatment. The injured police members are Sub-Inspectors Robiul Amin, Kishore Kumar, Golam Azam, Mostafizur Rahman and Abdur Samad, and Constables Shawkat Hossain, Hasib Mollah and Moklesur.

Two homemade pistols, one double-barrel gun, four bullets, five cartridges, one axe, a few sharp weapons, 15 sticks and a boat were seized from the spot.