'Robber' killed in 'shootout' with police

An alleged robber was killed in a "gunfight" with police, while another beaten to death by locals in Mymensingh's Trishal upazila early yesterday.

One of the deceased was identified as Robbani, 27, of Bogra village, while the identity of the other, aged around 30, could not be known immediately.

Syed Nurul Islam, superintendent of Mymensingh police, said a patrol team of Mymensingh DB police, led by its officer-in-charge Ashiqur Rahman, went to Boilor area around 3:30am, acting on information that eight-10 robbers were there to commit a robbery.

The team found a gathering of some 200 people at Boilor where the gang attempted to commit the robbery. But chased by locals, the gang members fled in two pickups. Locals caught one of them while fleeing and beat him up, killing him on the spot, the SP said.

Hearing the news, the police team went after the gang and came to know that the criminals were staying in Jhitka area.

When the law enforcers reached near the spot, the gang members opened fire. In retaliation, police returned fire, triggering a "gunfight". During the "gun battle", Robbani was hit by bullets and died on the spot, said police.

However, other members of the gang managed to flee.

Police claimed to have recovered a homemade gun and a bullet from the spot.

The bodies were sent to Mymensingh Medical College morgue for autopsies. 

Robbani stood accused in a case filed for killing two people after rustling 10 cattle from a farm in Gopalpur village of Mymensingh Sadar upazila on August 21, said Mohammad Noor-e-Alam, additional superintendent of Mymensingh police.