Two gunfights, 5 muggers shot
At least five alleged muggers sustained bullet wounds yesterday in two gunfights between police and criminals at Mohammadpur and Kadamtoli in the city.
Statistics say at least 20 gunfights have so far taken place since the law enforcement agencies launched the "Combat Operation" to fight criminals in different parts of the city. Some 50 persons were bullet-hit in these incidents.
Masud Miah, 25, Mohammad Sohel, 26, Joj Miah, 30, and Liton, 31, received bullets in a gun battle at Nobinagar Housing in Mohammadpur early yesterday.
Police said the gun battle ensued when they retaliated firing on them from the criminals.
In another incident at Muradpur under Kadamtoli Police Station, Eskender alias Rana, 26, was wounded when his accomplices attempted to snatch him from police.
Sources said from April 14 law enforcers have taken up a new strategy of shooting criminals in the legs "to create panic" among them, which might help combat crimes in the city.
Sources at Dhaka Medical College Hospital also said almost all the bullet-hit criminals treated there received bullets in their legs.
Four gunfights took place in April in Gulshan, Pallabi, Mirpur and Turag areas, leaving an alleged mugger killed and four other criminals wounded.
The deceased was identified as Mohammad Manik, 32. He received bullets in the leg in a shootout between police and his cohorts on Staff Road at Banani but died due to severe bleeding.
Gunfights also took place in Mirpur, Pallabi, Khilgaon, Adabor, Jatrabari, Turag, Uttara, Lalbagh and other places.
All official press releases issued by the law enforcement agencies since April mentioned that the gun battles started as they retaliated with gunshots to save themselves and government properties from criminals.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner AKM Shahidul Huq told The Daily Star that the situations in all incidents forced the law enforcers to retaliate with firings. The police have the right to save their lives and government properties, he added.
In reply to a question, the DMP commissioner said the number of incidents of gunfight seems to have increased because the police have become "more active".
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