Rohingya ‘robber’ killed in ‘gunfight’

A Rohingya man, suspected to be a robber, was killed in a "gunfight" with police near Shalbagan Rohingya camp at Hnila union in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar on Saturday night.

The dead -- Md Sharif, 28, son of Md Salam -- was an active member of top-notch robber group Zakir, claimed Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station.

On information, a police team conducted a drive in the area to arrest the robbers of Zakir Group around 9:30pm. Sensing police presence, robbers opened fire, forcing the police personnel to retaliate, he added.

After the "gunfight", police found a bullet-hit body lying on the ground while rest of the group members managed to flee, the OC said.

Sharif was first rushed to a local health complex and then to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital. The doctors at the hospital declared him dead, the OC added.

Two policemen were injured in the "gunfight" and were undergoing treatment at Teknaf Upazila Health Complex, the police official said, adding that the body was sent to morgue for autopsy while two cases were under process.

Police claimed to have recovered two local firearms and seven rounds of bullets from the spot.

The Daily Star, however, could not independently verify the police claims.