2 ‘JMB militants’ killed in Bogra 'gunfight' with cops
Two suspected militants of the banned Islamist militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were killed in a “gunfight” between his associates and police in Sherpur upazila of Bogra early today.
The deceased were identified as alleged JMB military commander of northern region Khaled Hasan alias Badar Mama, 30, son of Md Enamul Haque hailing from Nachole upazila in Chapainawabganj and Ibrahim Golam Tarek alias Ripon, 29, hailing from Boalia upazila of Rajshahi.
The two were involved with the planning of the murder of Rajshahi University Professor Rezaul Karim, our Bogra correspondent reports quoting Senior Assistant Superintendent of police (media) Gaziur Rahman.
Two policemen -- Babul Akhtar and Abdul Mottalleb, were also injured in the alleged gunfight. They were rushed to Police Lines hospital in Bogra town.
Acting on a tip-off that a group of JMB leaders and activists were staying at Noluabari intersection in Bishalpur union, a team of police conducted a drive around 3:30am, Gaziur Rahman said.
Sensing the presence of police, the JMB men opened fire on them prompting the law enforcers to retaliate, triggering a “gunfight”, the police official said.
Khaled and his cohorts were caught in the line of fire and died on the spot while their others managed to flee the scene, he added.
Khaled Hasan was an accused in multiple cases including attack on two temples, vandalising a petrol pump and an attempt to kill an Italian doctor in Dinajpur, added the police official.
Khaled along with militants -- Bike Hasan, Badhon and one Shuvash -- planned the killing of noted RU Professor of English department Rezaul Karim at Ripon’s house at Boalia area in Rajshahi, said the senior assistant superintendent.
Bike Hasan was killed in a shootout in Rajshahi while Badhon was killed during an operation at a Gulshan café that ended the 11-hour siege leaving 22 people, mostly foreigners, killed.
Later, police recovered the bodies of Khaled and Ripon from the spot. They also recovered one pistol, four bullets, knife and huge bomb-making equipment.