Two Jamaat, Shibir men killed in 'shootout'

A Jamaat leader and an activist of the party's student body Islami Chhatra Shibir were killed in a "shootout" with police in Bhutiargathi village in the district town early yesterday.

They are Jahurul Islam, 45, of Chuadanga bus stand area in the town, and Tarik Hasan Sajib, 30, of Arappur in the town. Jahurul was the Jamaat ameer of Jhenidah town unit and a teacher of Asaduzzaman Hosnin Keyabagan College in Kaliganj upazila. Sajib was the adviser to Dhaka city (west) unit of Shibir.

Police said Jahurul stood accused in seven cases and Sajib in one case.

Ajbahar Ali Sheikh, additional superintendent of police in Jhenidah, said that around 4:00am, a team of police was patrolling near bypass road in Bhutiargathi village. At that time, they saw three motorcyclists coming speedily towards police van.

When the police signalled them to stop, the criminals hurled crude bombs at the law enforcers. Police then returned fire, triggering the "gunfight".

Jahurul and Sajib were caught in the line of fire. The other managed to flee. The two were declared dead after being taken to Jhenidah Sadar Hospital, the police official said.

He added that the criminals were going to the town to carry out subversive activities there.

Police also claimed to have recovered two homemade guns, two bullets, five crude bombs and a motorbike from the spot.

Three police constables were wounded in the "gunfight" and they took first aid, police claimed.

Sajib's mother Mahfuza Khatun alleged that some plainclothes policemen picked up her son from the district town on September 13 when he was returning home from his in-laws' house.

She filed a general diary with Sadar Police Station the next day.

She also claimed that her son was not involved in any politics.

Contacted, Ajbahar denied the allegation of Sajib's mother.

However, this correspondent failed to contact Jahurul's family as his house was found padlocked from outside.

'ROBBER' BULLET-HIT

In another incident, an alleged robber leader suffered bullet injuries in a "gunfight" with police in Dhopabila village under Kaliganj upazila early yesterday.

Nasir Uddin, 45, is a leader of an inter-district robber gang, police said.

Aminul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kaliganj Police Station, said police arrested Nasir, who is a convicted accused, at Baro Bazar on Monday.

As per Nasir's statement, police along with Nasir went to a field in Dhopabila village to recover firearms around 4:00am yesterday.

Sensing the law enforcers' presence, Nasir's cohorts opened fire. Police then fired back, triggering the "gunfight". When Nasir tried to flee, he was hit by bullets, said the police official.

Nasir was admitted to Jhenidah Sadar Hospital.

Police also claimed to have recovered a homemade gun, one bullet and two billhooks from the spot.