Three killed in ‘gunfights’

Three men -- two alleged robbers and a suspected drug dealer -- were killed in "gunfights" with law enforcers in Bagerhat, Dinajpur and Pabna yesterday.

In Bagerhat, Faruque Morol, 35, was killed in a "gunfight" with Rab members in the Sundarbans area.

The man was the ringleader of a robber gang locally known as Faruque Bahini, said Rab.

Lt Col Rawshawul Firoz, commanding officer of Rab-6, said they conducted a raid in the area around 8:00am on information. As soon as they reached there, members of the robber gang opened fire, forcing them to retaliate.

At one point, Faruque sustained bullet injuries. Rushed to the local health complex, doctors declared him dead. Two Rab officials, who also sustained injuries during the "gunfight" received primary treatment, he added.

Contacted, Maloy Mollick, doctor at Mongla Upazila Health Complex, said Rab members brought three men in the morning. One of them was dead and had bullet injuries on his body.

In Dinajpur, Ferdous Fahim, 33, of Birganj upazila, was killed in a "gunfight" with police.

The dead used to smuggle drugs from India and sell it inside Bangladesh, said police.

While narrating the "gunfight", Moniruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Birampur Police Station, echoed Lt Col Firoz's statement tweaking only the time and place.

A police team conducted a raid in Mirpur village of Birampur upazila on information. As soon as they reached the area, a group of seven to eight opened fire, forcing them to retaliate, he said.

At one point, Fahim sustained bullet injuries and died on the spot. The body was sent to M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital for autopsy, he added.

Three policemen also sustained injuries and received primary treatment at Birampur Upazila Health Complex, the OC said.

A pipe gun, three bullets, and several sharp weapons were recovered from the spot, he claimed.

In Pabna, Sarwar Hossain aias Soro, 36, was killed in a "gunfight" with police.

The dead was the ringleader of a notorious robber gang, said police.

Goutam Kumar Bishwas, additional superintendent of Pabna police, said they conducted a raid around 2:00am in Shamukjani Bazar area in Santhia upazila on information that a robber gang took position there.

Sensing their presence, the robbers opened fire, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate. At one point of the "gunfight", Sarwar sustained bullet injuries. He was rushed to Pabna Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead, he claimed.

Rest of the criminals managed to flee, he said, adding two policemen also sustained injuries during the "gunfight" and were undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Police claimed to have recovered a gun, ammunition and a knife from the spot, Gautam said.

The Daily Star, however, could not independently verify the law enforcers' claims.

Our Bagerhat, Dinajpur and Pabna correspondents contributed to this report