Two killed in 'shootouts'

Two alleged criminals were killed in “shootouts” with Rapid Action Battalion in the capital and Barguna early yesterday.
They are Nabir Hossain Dabir, 28, from Sakhipur of Shariatpur, and Abdul Khaleq, 50, of Badarkhali union of Barguna.
On information, a team of Rab-4 around 4:00am went to the city's Bauliabadh area to catch some criminals, said Iqbal Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Pallabi Police Station. As the criminals saw the Rab men, they started firing on the law enforcers. The Rab team fired back and at one stage Dabir was shot dead.
Dabir's cohorts, however, managed to flee.
A revolver, a single-shot firearm and two bullets were recovered from the scene, Iqbal said.
The OC identified Dabir as the second-in-command of Zamil Group, a criminal gang active in the area.
Dabir was a resident of Kalshi in Pallabi and an accused in many cases filed with Pallabi Police Station, the OC said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Khaleq died in a gunfight with Rab at Gaurichanna of Barguna sadar upazila.
Acting on a tip-off, a patrol team of Rab-8 challenged a gang of robbers at Gaurichanna around 2:00am, Rab sources said. The gang members opened fire on the Rab personnel prompting them to retaliate.
At one stage of the gunfight, the criminals fled the scene.
Locals at about 6:00am found Khaleq's dead body, said Shariful Islam, deputy assistant director of Rab-8.
The body was sent to Barguna General Hospital.
Khaleq was an accused in several cases filed with Barguna Sadar Police Station, police said.
Rab sources claimed that Khaleq led the Khaleq Bahini, a gang of robbers, active in the area.