Two killed in ‘gunfights’

Two suspected criminals were killed in “gunfights” with members of Rapid Action Battalion in Cox’s Bazar and Pabna early yesterday.

The dead are suspected drug peddler Rubel, 22, of Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar, and suspected robber Amin Sheikh, 40, of Pabna Sadar upazila, said Rab.

Mirza Shahed Mahtab, company commander of Rab-15 in Teknaf, and Aminul Kabir Tarafder, commanding officer of Rab-12 in Pabna, talked to journalists after the “gunfights”.

According to the officials, members of the elite force conducted raids in the two districts on information.

In both the cases, “criminals” opened fire on Rab members first, forcing them to retaliate.

During the “gunfights”, both the “criminals” sustained bullet injuries and died.

In Cox’s bazar, Rab members rushed Rubel to Cox’s Bazar General Hospital where doctors declared him dead. In Pabna, Amin died on the spot of the “gunfight”.

The bodies were sent to morgues for autopsies.

Rab in Cox’s Bazar recovered 10,000 yaba pills, one locally made gun and three bullets while Rab in Pabna recovered one pistol and two sharp weapons from the scene.

Two cases were filed with Teknaf Police Station and Pabna Sadar Police Station in connection with the “gunfights”.

Our correspondents in Cox’s Bazar and Pabna contributed to this report