Meherpur Jamaat leader killed in gunfight

A ward-level ameer (chief) of Jamaat-e-Islami was killed and 3 members of joint forces were injured during a gunfight in Sadar upazila of Meherpur early today.

Abdul Jabbar, 55, was the ameer of ward No. 9 in Amjhupi Union Parishad of Sadar upazila and also a ward councillor of the union, reports our Kushtia correspondent.

Jabbar was accused in two cases filed in connection with recent spate of violence unleashed by Jamaat and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, in the district, Reazul Islam, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station, told The Daily Star.

After the end of the 40-minute shootout, the joint forces retrieved one rifle and five bombs from Hijuli village, the center point of the incident.

Joint forces arrested Jabbar from his Hijuli home Monday morning, AKM Nahidul Islam, superintendent of police (SP) in Meherpur told The Daily Star.

During the preliminary interrogation after his arrest, Jabbar confessed before the joint forces that the Jamaat activists kept hiding a large cache of arms in village, the SP said.

He also divulged information that the Shibir activists, led by Abdul Matin, Khulna divisional coordinator of Jamaat, were scheduled to hold a meeting in the area on the night.

Describing the incident, the OC told The Daily Star that acting on the information, the members of joint forces conducted a drive in Hijuli village of the restive Meherpur district around 2:00am.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the Jamaat men opened fire on the joint forces, prompting them to retaliate with gunshots.

At one stage of the gunfight, Jabbar tried to flee the clutches of law, jumping from their van, and caught in the line of fire, the OC said.

The cohorts of Jabbar, who according to the joint forces opened fire on them, managed to flee the scene, the OC added.

Later, the members of the joint forces recovered bullet-riddled Jabbar and admitted him to Meherpur General Hospital.

Jabbar succumbed to his injuries at the hospital around 3:30am, the OC added.