5 'criminals' killed in 'gunfights,' attack

Four outlaws were killed in Pabna yesterday in separate incidents of "gunfight" and attack, and an alleged criminal was killed in another "gunfight" with law enforcers in Cox's Bazar the same day.
The deceased were identified as Faruk Ahmed Paban, 40, a central leader of Lal Pataka faction of the outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML), Siddique Pramanik, 35, and Bishu Pramanik, 26, two operatives of Janajuddha faction of PBCP, Mohammad Khokon, 27, a cadre of a local gang --Bahini-- and Rashed Uddin Chowdhury Babar, 35, an alleged criminal in Cox's Bazar.
Our Pabna correspondent reports: Paban was killed in a 'shootout' between Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and his accomplices in Ishwardi upazila early yesterday.
Paban hailed from Baraichara village in the upazila, and he was accused in several cases including those for murder and robbery, Rab said.
Commander of Rab-12 Pabna Camp Lt Commander TAH Mahmud said acting on a tip off that Paban was holding a secret meeting with his accomplices at a field in his village, they conducted a raid in the area. Sensing this, the gang opened fire on the Rab men, prompting them to retaliate with fire.
After a "gunfight" for about 20 minutes, Rab found Paban lying in a pool of blood, Mahmud added.
Paban's accomplices managed to flee the spot leaving three guns and eight bullets, Rab said.
On March 25, 2007, Rab arrested Paban with a huge amount of arms and ammunition including eight SMGs and 1,500 bullets from Sadar upazila of Pabna. A case was filed in this connection, and he was later released on bail.
Siddique Pramanik, a Janajuddha operative, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning hours after a bomb attack on him in Ataikula upazila of Pabna.
Md Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ataikula Police Station, suspected that Siddique's rivals might have hurled bombs on him around 2:00am as he came out of his house in Charadanga village responding to their call.
Fatally injured Siddique was rushed to Pabna Sadar Hospital where he died.
Unidentified assailants chopped Bishu Pramanik to death yesterday afternoon at Hatbaria Boalia Bazar in Santhia upazila.
Md Rabiul Islam, OC of Santhia Police Station, suspected that party rivals might have killed him following a row over tolls collected from the bazar (market).
In yet another incident, assailants chopped Md Khokon of Satgachha village in Atghoria upazila yesterday afternoon when he came out of his house and went to a nearby pond.
Atghoria OC Abu Hanif suspected the killing occurred as a sequel to intra-party feuds.
A correspondent from Cox's Bazar adds: An alleged criminal, Rashed Uddin Chowdhury Babar, was killed in a "gunfight" with the members of Rab-7 in Kalabagan area of Eidgah union in Cox's Bazar Sadar upazila early yesterday morning.
Babar, 35, of Mehernama village, was accused in 23 cases including some for murder and dacoity.
His family alleged that it was a planned killing.
Babar was son of late freedom fighter Master Syedul Alam Chowdhury of Uttar Maijpara village under Eidgah union. He was joint convener of an organisation titled Amra Muktijoddhar Santan at Cox's Bazar, and a former leader of upazila Chhatra League, members of the family said.
An autopsy of Babar was conducted at Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue, and he was buried at their family graveyard.
Cox's Bazar Model Police Station chief Mohammad Shahjahan said Rab members recovered a locally made LG bullet, a machete and three cartridges from the spot of gunfight.