Mob kills 2 'robbers'

Two suspected robbers were beaten to death in Savar, while the chief of an inter-district robber gang was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Magura yesterday.

Locals beat the two “robbers” to death while they were fleeing after committing a robbery at Vakurta village in Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka, reports our correspondent.

The identities of the men could not be known immediately. The bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsies, said police.

The villagers said at least five robbery incidents took place at Hindupara in the village last week. They also alleged that police did not take any step even after the law enforcers were informed about the matter.

Some 12-15 “robbers” attacked the house of Liton Chandra Das around 2:30am yesterday. The gang then committed the robbery, holding the family members at gunpoint, said Abdul Motaleb Miah, officer-in-charge of Savar Model Police station, quoting locals.

Locals who were patrolling the village to tackle the robbery on their own caught two of the criminals when they were fleeing with valuables, he added.

Most of the families in Hindupara are involved with silver ornament business.

Police even refused to file any case in connection with the robberies, alleged Rasamoy Das, a resident of Hindupara.

However, the OC rejected the allegation.

“GUNFIGHT”

Our Jhenidah correspondent adds, the chief of an inter-district robber gang was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Magura Sadar upazila early yesterday.

The dead, Rafiqul Islam alias Moazzem, 35, was son of Atik Sardar of Satkhira's Ashashoni upazila. Moazzem used to lead the gang named after him.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team conducted a drive in Mugirdal area where around eight to 10 armed robbers were preparing to rob vehicles on Magura-Jessore highway by placing logs on the highway around 2:00am, said Munshi Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire on them, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate, triggering a “gunfight”, he said.

During the “gunfight”, Moazzem was hit by bullets and died on the spot. The others fled.

Police claimed that they recovered a rifle, two bullets, five crude bombs and several sharp weapons from the spot.