23 outlaws killed in 'shootouts', only 13 of 3,500 criminals held
Twenty-three outlaws have been killed in 'crossfire' in ten south-western districts during the month-long special combing operation that ends today.
According to sources in the police, the period also saw murder of 20 people including three ruling Awami League men and one BNP activist in the region. However, they could nor produce any districtwise breakdown.
Law enforcers rounded up 4,877 people from 10 districts under Khulna division and recovered 81 illegal firearms and 232 bullets from September 1 to 28.
But the arrestees include only 13 of the 3,500 criminals included in the updated list made in last June.
The previous list made in 2008 included 2,754 criminals including extremists in 10 districts of the division, said sources at DIG control room.
A large number in the updated list of criminals and extremists are directly or indirectly linked with the two major political parties, police sources said.
Khulna Range DIG Sheikh Hemayetuddin yesterday said such special operations, jointly conducted by Rapid Action Battalion and police, will continue.
This month's special operation in Khulna division followed two other special operations launched from June 1 to July 31 and August 1 to August 30, said the control room of the DIG office.
That period saw killing of 104 people including two Awami League activists.
According to a source in Khulna Range DIG office, about 600 armed cadres of three underground organisations PBCP (Janajuddho), PBCP (Lalpataka) and New Biplobi Communist Party are engaged in extortion and other criminal activities in 10 districts of Khulna division.
Intelligence sources said that most of the outlaws who surrendered responding to the general amnesty in 1999 have returned to the underworld, deserting the jobs they were provided by the then government as 'reward' for surrendering their arms and leaving criminal activities.
These outlaws are again reorganising and collecting arms and ammunition from various sources including their mentors now hiding in India as Shailen Biswas, Harun Sheikh and Mashikul Islam Chowdhury are leading New Biplobi Communist Party, PBCP (Lalpataka) and PBCP (Janajuddho) respectively, the sources said.
The three ringleaders are wanted in quite a few criminal cases including several for murder.
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