Armed robbers beat up a member of armed police battalion and looted firearm and ammunition from him in Dumuria upazila of Khulna early yesterday.
Injured Nayek Abul Bashar of Baniakhali police camp was admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital.
Abdul Jalil, officer-in-charge of Dumuria police station, said a gang of armed bandits, numbering 20, stormed into a jewellery shop, 200 yards off the police camp, at about 1:30am and started looting valuables.
Hearing the screams of the shop owner, local people informed the incident to nearby police camp.
Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the gang opened fire on them which prompted the police to retaliate that triggered a 'gunfight'.
At one stage, the robbers caught Nayek Abul Bashar and beat him up indiscriminately. They snatched a sub-machine gun and 30 rounds of bullet from him.
Later, the bandits left the spot exploding several bombs, creating panic among the locals.
The robbers looted one tola of gold and 35 tolas of silver from the shop, police said.
Police, however, arrested 10 people in this connection during a seven-hour drive that ended around 9:00am yesterday. The arrestees were brought to Dumuria Police Station.
Police are continuing their search for the looted firearm and bullets.