'Criminal' killed in city 'gunfight'

A suspected criminal was killed in a “gunfight” with the Detective Branch of police in the capital's Khilgaon early yesterday.
The dead is Jakir Hossain alias Kangali Jakir, 40, an accused in the murder case of Sergeant Ahad.
The incident occurred around two weeks into the killing of two suspected criminals in another “shootout” between some goons and detectives in Motijheel.
Family members of Jakir said though the deceased was involved in criminal activities previously, he was leading a normal life after serving 11 years in jail in two phases.
Detectives picked him up on Thursday and killed him after confirming his identity from his wife Nipa Begum over the phone, complained family members at the morgue of Dhaka Medical College.
Talking to The Daily Star, Deputy Commissioner (media) Masudur Rahman of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said a DB team was patrolling the Khilgaon Bishwa Road area, prone to mugging at dead of night.
At one stage, the patrol team noticed suspicious movement of several young men near Khidmah Hospital around 3:00am and challenged them.
Sensing danger, the youths opened fire on the law enforcers. Detectives retaliated with gun shots triggering the “shootout” that left one of the youths injured by bullets.
He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where physicians declared him dead around 4:00am, mentioned Masudur.
 A pistol loaded with three bullets was recovered from the spot.
Police claimed DB constables Alim and Jony Barua were injured in the incident and received treatment at Central Police Hospital in Rajarbagh.
Jakir's sister Baby Begum said his brother left his Meradia home on Thursday morning.
“An anonymous caller phoned Nipa several times from Jakir's cellphone on Thursday. The caller inquired Nipa about his husband and confirmed that the man was Jakir,” added Baby.
 “If my brother committed any crime, he could have been put on trial under the country's existing laws. Why was he murdered?” questioned Baby.
 An autopsy of Jakir will be performed at Dhaka Medical College today, said morgue sources.
On June 29, Ramzan Ali and Rakib Hossain Aqmal were killed in another “gunfight” between suspected criminals and detectives in the capital's Motijheel.
Cops at that time also identified the deceased as criminals, but the family members of the two claimed that they were not involved in criminal activities.