'Gunfights' kill 2 'robbers' in Kushtia, Sylhet

Two alleged robbers were killed in "gunfights" with police in Kushtia and Sylhet in the last two days.

In Kushtia, a suspected robber was killed in a "shootout" with law enforcers at Chadagara on Kushtia-Rajbari highway early yesterday.

The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately.

A police team went to spot in the early hours of yesterday on information that some robbers put a barricade on the highway for committing a robbery, said Sabbirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kushtia DB police.

Sensing the presence of law enforcers, the criminals opened fire. Police then returned fire, triggering the "gunfight", he said.

One of the robbers was hit by bullets during the "gunfight" and doctors declared him dead when he was taken to Kushtia General Hospital, the police official added.

Police claimed to have recovered three homemade guns, three bullets and several sharp weapons from the spot.

In Sylhet, another alleged robber was killed in a similar incident in Choripara village of Sylhet's Kanaighat upazila on Thursday night.

The victim is Habibur Rahman Habi, 45.

Around 9:30pm, a police team went to the village to arrest Habi, an accused in a robbery case, said Shamsul Alam Sarker, ASP of Sylhet police.

Sensing the presence of police, Habi fired bullets at the law enforcers and police retaliated, the police official said.

The ASP said Habi was shot dead during the "gunfight".