5 outlaws held after gunfight with police

Five operatives of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-Janajuddho) were arrested after gunfight with police at Jorgasa village under Atghoria upazila of Pabna district early yesterday.
Receiving information that 10 to 12 outlaws were holding a secret meeting on the premises of Jorgasa Madrasa, a police team from Atghoria Police Station raided the area at around 3:30am.
Sensing the presence of the policemen, the outlaws opened fire, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate. Both sides traded at least 15 to 20 rounds of bullets during the shootout that continued for half an hour, police said.
Police arrested five of the gang while the rest managed to flee. They are yusuf Ali, Saiful Islam, Chapu Sardar, Fazlul Islam and Moksed Biswas. Police recovered a rifle and three bullets from the spot.
Five policemen, including Officer-in-Charge of Atghoria Police Station Kazi Haniful, were injured. They were given first aid at local heath complex.
When contacted, OC Kazi Haniful Islam said the outlaws are accused in several criminal cases filed with Atghoria Police Station. Law enforcers are conducting drives in many places to arrest the outlaws, he added.
Meanwhile, police arrested another operative of Janajuddho faction at Atghoria Bazar on Saturday night and recovered a shutter gun from his possession.
The arrestee is Jamal Uddin, 45, of Khotbari village in Chatmohar upazila. He was wanted in several cases including one for murder, police said.