3 'criminals' killed in 'gunfight'

Two alleged criminals were killed in a "gunfight" with members of the Rapid Action Battalion at Rampura in the capital early yesterday.

The Rab identified the dead as Probitra Samaddar, 28, son of Notobor Samaddar from Jhalakathi and Mohammad Ali Swapan, 30, son of Siraj Mia from Shariatpur.

At least three cases were filed against Probitra with Badda Police Station for various offenses including mugging and possessing firearms while Swapan had one case against him with Rampura Police Station, said ASM Shakhawat Hossain, operation officer of Rab-3.

The firefight took place around 2:00am when a team of Rab raided Balur Math area of Rampura with information that a gang of criminals would commit robbery at the spot, Lt Col Khandakar Golam Sarwar, commanding officer of Rab-3, told The Daily Star.

The criminals, sensing Rab's presence, started firing shots at the law enforcers in their attempt to flee the scene. The Rab also returned fire, leaving two of the gang members injured. Other members of the gang managed to escape by the time the shootout was over, the Rab CO added.

The Rab with the help of local police transported the injured to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared them dead, the Rab official said, adding that four Rab members sustained minor injuries during the "gunfight".

The law enforcers also claimed to have recovered two handguns and five bullets from the scene.

Rab officials said the gang were involved in robberies and muggings in Rampura, Uttara, Hatirjheel and nearby areas.

As of filing of this report at 6:30pm last evening, the two corpses, preserved at the mortuary of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, remained unclaimed.

Meanwhile, the ringleader of a robbery gang was killed in another "gunfight" with the Rab last night when the law enforcers raided a hideout of the criminals at Jhaoil area near the Bangabandhu Bridge in Sirajganj.

The alleged robber -- Dulal Hossain, 45, son of Afzal Hossain from Shamsherpur village under Belkuchi upazila -- died of bullet injuries after he was taken to Sirajganj General Hospital, claimed Hasibul Hasan, commander of Rab-12 at Sirajganj camp.

Dulal was accused in a dozen of cases including robbery, murder and other criminal charges, he said, adding that they recovered two firearms and a machete from the spot.