Gunfight with Cops: Two 'robbers' shot dead in Shariatpur

Two suspected robbers were killed in what police said was a gunfight between law enforcers and armed gang members in Dakshin Dehobhog area of Shariatpur's Sadar upazila early yesterday.

The dead Jahangir Akonda, 40, and Russel Fakir, 34, were residents of Madaripur's Rajor and Kalkini upazila.

Police claimed that Jahangir was accused in four robbery cases while Russel had six cases filed against him.

However, Surmani Begum, wife of Russel, said her husband, who was a vegetable trader, was innocent, adding that they used to live in a rented house in Savar's Baliapur area.

“One Zakir, who is familiar to us, came to our house on Thursday and took my husband out with him.”

“He [Russel] never returned since then,” she added.

Zakir told her that some CID men had picked them up from somewhere in Savar and released him afterwards and kept Russel in their custody, she also said.

However, Maniruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Palong Model Police Station said, “Detective Branch of Police arrested Jahangir and Russel in separate drives from Savar on Thursday and handed them over the following day.”

“We conducted several raids in Madaripiur, Dhaka and Bogura with the two in a bid to recover illegal firearms and arrest their accomplices,” the OC added.

When we went to Shariatpur early yesterday, a group of robbers opened fire on us, forcing us to retaliate, he said, adding that the two men sustained bullet injuries and declared dead after being taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital.

“Three police men were also injured in the incident. Police recovered one firearm, nine cocktails, eight machetes, two knives and one lock picking kit from the spot,” added OC.   

No case was filed in this connection, he said.