2 ‘criminals’ killed in Dhaka ‘gunfight’

Two alleged criminals were killed in a “gunfight” with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Rampura area of Dhaka early today.

The dead were identified as Probitra Samaddar, 28, son of Notobor Samaddar of Jhalokati district and Mohammad Ali Swapan, 30, son of Siraj Mia of Shariatpur district.

Probitra was accused in at least three cases including mugging and possessing illegal arms with Badda Police Station while Swapan in a case with Rampura Police Station, said ASM Shakhawat Hossain, operation officer of Rab-3. 

After receiving information that a gang of criminals took position in Balur Math area of Rampura for committing robbery, a Rab team conducted a drive in the area around 2:00am, Khandakar Golam Sarwar, commanding officer of Rab-3, told The Daily Star.

The criminals tried to flee the scene firing shots, prompting the elite force members to fire back that triggered a “gunfight”.   

At one stage, the gang members fled the scene leaving two of them with bullet wounds, the Rab official said.   

Later, they were whisked off to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared them dead, he added.

Four Rab members were also injured during the gunfight, the Rab commanding officer claimed.

The law enforcers recovered two pistols and five bullets from the scene.