'Criminal' killed in 'shootout'

An alleged criminal was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Phultala upazila of Khulna, while a “robber” was shot in a similar incident in Satkhira's Tala upazila yesterday.

The dead is Sohel Rana, 25, son of Abdul Wahab Fakir of Abhaynagar upazila in Jessore. The injured is Shahjahan Ali Sarder, 40, son of Gahor Sarder of Satkhira's Tala upazila.

Till yesterday, at least 51 people, including Sohel, were killed in so-called gunfights with law enforcement agencies this year, according to The Daily Star reports.

KHULNA

Rana stood accused in seven criminal cases, including murder and robbery, said TM Rokanuzzaman, officer-in-charge of Khulna Detective Branch (DB) of police.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team arrested Rana from Paigram Kosba in Phultala upazila around 9:00pm on Friday, the DB official said, reports our Khulna correspondent.

After interrogation, police along with Rana raided Jugnipasha Telipukur for recovering firearms around 2:30am yesterday.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, Rana's aides sprayed bullets on them, prompting police to fire back, triggering the “gunfight”.

At one stage, Rana was caught in the line of fire and hurt badly. The others fled. Rana was taken to Phultala Upazila Health Complex where on-duty doctors declared him dead, said Rokanuzzaman.

Police recovered five crude bombs, one shutter gun and 14 bullets from the spot, he claimed.

SATKHIRA

An alleged robber, Shahjahan Ali, suffered bullet injuries in a “gunfight” with police in Tala upazila early yesterday, our Satkhira correspondent adds.

Acting on information, a patrol team of police conducted a drive in Kumira area where around 12 to 14 criminals were preparing to commit a robbery by placing logs on Satkhira-Khulna highway around 1:30am, said Tarikul Islam, officer-in-charge of Patkelghata Police Station.

Sensing police presence, teh “robbers” hurled brick chips at them first and then opened fire. The law enforcers also returned fire, triggering the “gunfight”.

They later found Shahjahan bullet-hit on the spot. The rest fled the scene. Shahjahan is being treated at Khulna Medical College Hospital. Police claimed that two sharp weapons and two bullets were recovered from the spot.