Criminal killed in 'gunfight'

An alleged robber was killed in a “shootout” with police in the east Sundarbans under Sharankhola range of Bagerhat early yesterday.
The dead, Namir Talukdar, 38, was a member of robber gang, Rezaul alias “Shirsha Bahini”, according to police. He was son of late Sultan Talukdar in Arjunbahor village of Bagerhat Sadar upazila.
Namir was accused in at least eight criminal cases, including robbery and murder, police said.
Kazi Abdus Salek, officer-in-charge of Sharankhola Police Station, said police arrested Namir from Arjunbahor Bazar on Saturday evening.
During preliminary interrogation, Namir gave information to police about a large arms cache and police went to the east bank of the Bhola river to recover the firearms around 4:00am yesterday, he said.
Sensing the law enforcers' presence, Namir's aides opened fire. Police returned fire, triggering a “gunfight” between the robbers and the law enforcers.
Namir was hit by bullets during the “gunfight” and died on the spot, said Salek.
A firearm and four bullets were recovered from the spot, police claimed. The body was sent to Bagerhat Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy.
However, Namir's wife Parul Begum claimed her husband was not a robber.
At least 81 people were killed in “shootouts” with law enforcers across the country from January to June this year, according to Ain O Salish Kendra.