'Robber' killed in Kishoreganj 'gunfight'

An alleged robber was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Kishoreganj's Bhairab upazila early yesterday.

The deceased is Morom Ali, 35, of Kalipur in Bhairab municipality, police said.

Mukhlesur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Bhairab Police Station, said police raided Chandpur Bridge area around 1:30am on information that some robbers were preparing to commit a robbery.

Sensing the law enforcers' presence, the criminals started throwing brick chunks at them and they opened fire at one stage. Police then retaliated, triggering the “gun battle”, claimed the OC, who led the drive.

Morom was hit by bullets during the “gun battle”, while the others fled. He was rushed to Bhairab Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, the OC said.

The body was sent to Kishoreganj General Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Police claimed to have recovered a firearm, five bullets, two sharp weapons, 25 bottles of Phensedyl and 100 yaba tablets from the spot.

Morom, the ringleader of an inter-district robber gang, stood accused in 12 robbery cases filed with different police stations in Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria and Narsingdi, the OC said.

Eight of the cases were lodged with Bhairab Police Station.  

Six policemen, including two sub-inspectors, were hurt in the incident and they took first aid at the local health complex, said the police official.

A case was filed with Bhairab Police Station in connection with the “gunfight”.

The Daily Star could not contact the deceased's family for comments.