'Shootout' on
Two people, including a former leader of a union unit of Jubo League, were killed in “gunfights” between their cohorts and law enforcers in Gazipur and Tangail yesterday.
With the yesterday's death of Saidul Islam, 35, former president of Shimultala union unit Jubo League in Badda of Dhaka, four leaders and activists of pro-ruling party bodies have been killed in “crossfire” in as many days.
The other man killed yesterday in Tangail was identified as Mojibur Rahman Sheikh, a leader of an outlawed party.
In another “shootout” incident in Satkhira, Shaheen Sarder, a mugger suspect, was shot in both of his legs during a “gun battle” between his cohorts and police at Krishnanagar of Kaliganj upazila early yesterday.
According to rights body Ain O Salish Kendra, 72 people were killed in “crossfire” between law enforcers and alleged criminals in the first six months of this year. Besides, 23 people were killed in similar “gunfights” or “shootouts” between July 1 and August 21, according to reports published in this newspaper.
One of the recent victims, Hazaribagh unit Chhatra League president Arzu Miah, 28, was killed in a “gunfight” between his associates and Rab men in Hazaribagh on August 18.
The next day, local AL lawmaker Fazle Noor Taposh said, “Arzu was a brilliant student. He was polite and innocent. But the Rab killed him without a trial.”
In Magura, former Chhatra League leader Mehedi Hasan Ajibor, an accused of the shooting that left a pregnant woman and the baby in her womb shot on July 23, was killed in a “gun battle” with police on August 18.
In Kushtia, Jubo League leader Zakir Hossain, who was allegedly involved in party feud on August 15 that left one dead in the district, was killed in a “gunfight” with police on August 19.
Asked about the “crossfire”, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said the government has taken a tough position against all kinds of criminal and subversive activities that might deteriorate law and order.
“The government won't tolerate any misconduct even by our men. It will contain any criminal activities with iron fists so that people do not have any sense of insecurity,” he said.
GAZIPUR
Police said Jubo League ward leader Saidul Islam was killed in a “shootout” between his cohorts and members of Detective Branch (DB) of police at Salna in Gazipur early yesterday, reports our correspondent there.
Inspector of Gazipur DB Amir Hossain said police arrested Saidul, an alleged criminal, on Thursday and took him to Salna area to arrest his associates and recover firearms around 12:00am yesterday.
Sensing the presence of police, the associates of Saidul opened fire on them, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate, he claimed.
At one stage, Saidul was caught in the line of fire, added the officer.
Saidul was taken to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead around 12:25am.
Two DB constables -- Yeamin and Ujjal Mia -- were “slightly injured” during the gunfight. A pistol and two bullet were recovered from the scene, claimed Amir.
MA Jalil, officer-in-charge of Badda Police Station, said Saidul was wanted in five cases, including two for murder, filed with his station.
TANGAIL
Mojibur Rahman Sheikh, chief of the Sheikh-group of outlawed Sarbahara party, was killed in “crossfire” between his men and Rab personnel in Shamarghat area around 6:00am yesterday, reports our correspondent, quoting police.
On information that two groups of an outlawed party were in a gun battle in the area, a group of Rab members went there, said Tangail Police Station Officer-in-Charge [Investigation] Mustafizur Rahman. The outlawed party men then opened fire on the Rab men and they fired back, he claimed.
He said after the shooting, Rab members rescued critically injured Mojibur from the spot and took him to hospital where doctors declared him dead.
SATKHIRA
Alleged mugger Shaheen was shot in the legs during a “gunfight” between his cohorts and police at Krishnanagar of Kaliganj upazila early yesterday, police claimed.
Sub-Inspector Kamal Hossain, information officer of Satkhira district police, said a group of muggers intercepted Nirmal Ghosh of Krishnanagar village at Chatrar intersection of the upazila and took Tk 6 lakh from him at gunpoint around 2:15pm on Thursday.
Hearing his screams, police rushed there and chased the muggers and caught Shaheen in possession of Tk 4.79 lakh. The others managed to flee.
When police along with Shaheen conducted a drive at Krishnanagar to arrest his associates around 1:35am yesterday, his cohorts hurled crude bombs at police, and the police opened fire on them, he claimed.
Three police constables were injured in the crude bomb attack, police said.
Police recovered one locally made gun, two shotgun shells, two bullets and two sharp weapons from the spot.
Shaheen was admitted to Satkhira Sadar Hospital under police custody.
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