Youth killed in 'gunfight'

A businessman, whom police claim as a mugger, was killed during a 'gunfight' with law enforcers in the capital's Gulshan early yesterday. The wife of the deceased however differs on the account.
Taslima Begum, the wife, said a team led by SI Anisur Rahman of Gulshan Police Station raided her house at Nayanagar in the city's Badda on Tuesday around 4:30am and arrested her husband Mizanur Rahman.
Mizan, 29, was the owner of electronic goods shop Liza Sound System in the area. Injured Manik, 30, too is a resident of Nayanagar.
Police arrested two other muggers -- Jalal and Aslam -- and recovered a pistol and a private car from the spot.
Gulshan police Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Kamal Uddin said a resident of the area informed him that a silver car was roaming suspiciously at Banani yesterday around 1:00am.
A force led by the OC immediately rushed to the spot. Sensing the crime busters' presence, the car drove to road No 42 in Gulshan.
Kamal Uddin alerted nearby patrols.
As another squad blocked the road 42 to stop the car, the muggers started shooting at the officers prompting them to fire back, said the OC.
He said, following the gunfight they found Mizan and Manik left lying on the ground bullet hit.
The injured were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Mizan died there yesterday around 5:00am, DMCH sources said.
Kamal Uddin said they detained Jalal and Aslam who were trying to flee in the car. Another two members of the gang however managed to escape arrest.
He added over the last two months an armed gang in a silver colour car was mugging in Gulshan and Banani areas.
However, Taslima said during Tuesday's raid her neighbours thronged the spot hearing noise and witnessed the incident.
A neighbour seeking anonymity said a police team arrived at Mizan's house and picked up Mizan in presence of some locals including the house owner.
Taslima visited Mizan five times at the police station and each time she had to bribe the guards. Last time she met her husband was around Wednesday midnight.
She said Mizan on Wednesday asked her not to come to the police station any further as he was supposed to be produced before a court the next day.
Mizan also asked her to arrange money for lawyers to secure his bail.
Taslima said her husband also forbade her bribing the police, as he was not involved in any criminal offence.
Police earlier demanded Tk 2 lakh for his release. Finally on Wednesday night, they claimed Tk 10,000, she added.
Injured Manik at DMCH told reporters, police arrested him Tuesday around 5:00am and took him to a car. Mizan and two other persons were in the car.
He added SI Anisur Rahman yesterday around 1:00am got them out from the lockup and took them to a place blindfolded and shot him in the left leg.
They asked him to run but he fell to the ground. He also heard several gunshots.
Taslima urged State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, who made a sudden visit to Dhaka Medical College morgue yesterday, to take action against the police officials responsible for the incident.
Tuku said he would look into the matter.
Taslima said she would not receive her husband's body until the police personnel are tried .