Top criminal killed in Ctg 'shootout'

A criminal was killed in a gunfight between his cohorts and the law enforcers at South Paindong under Fatikchhari upazila of the port city early yesterday.
The deceased Shawkat alias Sheakaitya, 40, a top criminal on police list, was accused in 14 cases including seven for murder.
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of Rab-7 and police cordoned off Mollabari Eidgah area where the gang was holding a secret meeting at around 3:45am, Rab and police sources said.
Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the outlaws opened fire. Retaliatory fire by the lawmen triggered a gunfight.
The criminal was caught in the firing line while his accomplices managed to flee. Shawkat succumbed to his injury at the nearby health complex.
The lawmen recovered two firearms, 17 rounds of bullet and 10 bottles of beer from the spot.
Police said Shawkat was once an accomplice of Tipu and Osman, two local gang leaders in the area.
Later he joined Kashem chairman, an absconder accused of kidnapping and murder of a local businessman Jamaluddin.
Assistant Superintendent of police (ASP) Babul Akhter of Hathazari circle said Shawkat was trying to establish supremacy in the region after the gang leader Osman was killed in a 'shootout' with law enforcers on January 31 this year.
The ASP said police were trying to nab Shawkat after his cohorts Manik, Nasir and Mamun arrested on June 24 made confessions before the court about the murder of Rafik, a cloth trader of Bibirhat.
According to police, Shawkat murdered Nasiruddin, Nazrul,Yunus, Rafik and three BCL activists of the same upazila.