2 ‘criminals’ killed in ‘gunfights’

Two alleged criminals were killed in what law enforcers claimed were gunfights in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar early yesterday. 

A suspected robber was killed in a “shootout” with Rab members in Chattogram’s Banshkhali upazila, our Chattogram office reports.

Morshed Alam, 35, stood accused in around two dozen cases, including murder, said Mahmudul Hasan, assistant director (media wing) of Rab-7.

Rab also claimed to have recovered five firearms, 14 bullets, and three bullet shells from the spot.

A patrol team of Rab-7 raided Banigram Lotmuni hilly area around 12:30am on information that some criminals were preparing to commit a robbery in the area, said Tarek Aziz, second-in-command of Rab-7 Chandgaon camp.

Sensing the Rab members’ presence, the criminals opened fire. The law enforcers then retaliated, he added.

At one stage, Morshed was hit, while his cohorts managed to flee, the official added.

He was taken to Banshkhali Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead.

In Cox’s Bazar, an alleged yaba trader was killed in a similar incident with police in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf upazila, reports our correspondent there. 

Three policemen were injured during the “gunfight” that took place in Nayabazar area around 3:00am yesterday, said police.

Mohammad Nasir alias Munna, 30, of East Satghoria Para of the upazila, was accused in a narcotics case, said police.  

Acting on a tip-off that a consignment of yaba tablets was supposed to be smuggled in Bangladesh from Myanmar, a team of Teknaf police took position in Nayabazar area beside the Naf river, said Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station.   

Some yaba traders suddenly started firing on the police team, injuring three policemen -- ASI Ohed Ullah, constables Abdul Shukkur and Md Helal, the OC claimed. 

Police then returned fire, triggering the “gunfight”. Nasir was found lying on the spot after the “shootout” ended, the police official added.

Nasir was rushed to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex and later moved to Cox’s Bazar General Hospital where doctors declared him dead, he added.

Police also claimed to have recovered 10,000 yaba pills, three homemade firearms, and 12 bullets from the spot.

The Daily Star, however, could not communicate with any of the deceased’s families.