4 ‘suspects’ killed in ‘shootouts’ with police, Rab

Four suspected criminals were killed in “gunfights” with Rab and police yesterday.

Of them, two alleged robbers were killed as they got engaged in a “gunfight” with Rab members at Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans in Bagerhat’s Sarankhola upazila.

The dead are Khalek and Belal, members of a robber gang locally known as Khalek Bahini.

Major Shajibul Islam, deputy commander of Rab-8, claimed a team was patrolling the area when Khalek Bahini opened fire on them, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate.

At one point of the “gunfight”, the duo sustained bullet injuries. Around 7:00am, Rab members rushed the two to Khulna’s Dacope Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared them dead, he added.

Locals later identified them as Khalek and belal, he further added.

Rab also claimed to have recovered huge amount of firearms and ammunition from the spot.

Meanwhile, a suspected drug peddler was killed in a “gunfight” between two groups of drug tradders at Govipur village in Meherpur’s Sadar upazila.

The dead is Hamidul Islam, 30, of the same village, said police.

Shah Dara Khan, officer-in-charge of Meherpur Sadar Police Station, claimed a police team went to the viallge around 3:30am yesterday on information that two groups of drug traders were engaged in a “gunfight”.

As soon as police reached the area, the criminals fled the scene. The law enforcers then found a bullet-hit body on the spot, he further claimed, adding locals identified the dead as Hamidul. 

The body was sent to Meherpur General Hospital for autopsy. After the procedure completed, the body was handed over to family members.

Police also claimed to have recovered a shooter gun, two bullets and 12 bottles of phensidyl from the spot.

However, seeking anonymity, one of the victim’s cousin, alleged that Hamidul was detained three days before he was killed.

Asked, the OC denied the allegations and said, “We wanted to get Hamidul alive but we found his dead body today.”

In a similar incident, another suspected drug peddler was killed in Cox’s Bazar.

The dead is Nazrul Sikdar, 37, of Rajapalang union.

He was killed in a “gunfight” between two groups of drug traders, police claimed, adding “gunfight” happened over disagreement of sharing money.

Sub Inspector Sidhartha Shaha of Inani Police Outpost said on information they recovered bullet-hit Nazrul around 9:00am in Jaliapalang sea beach area of the district’s Ukhia upazila.

Police rushed him to Ukhia Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, he added.

Abul Mansur, officer-in-charge of Ukhia Police Station, said Nazrul was accused in three narcotic cases.

The OC also claimed to have recovered a locally made gun, one round of bullet and 500 yaba pills from the spot.

The Daily Star, however, could not independently verify any of the law enforcer’s claims.

Our Bagerhat, Kushtia and Cox’s Bazar correspondents contributed to the report