11 injured in gunfight with robbers

At least 11 persons including four policemen received bullets in an hour-long gunfight between police and robbers early morning yesterday at Thaingkhali under Ukhia upazila on Cox's Bazar-Teknaf highway.
Police and witnesses said, when around 10 to 15 armed dacoits put up a barricade on the highway with logs of wood at around 4:30 am and were preparing to rob Dhaka bound goods-laden trucks from Teknaf land port, a police team led by Ukhia thana OC Prodip Das reached there.
The robbers, sensing presence of the police, asked them to retreat and started firing indiscriminately. Police also opened fire in self-defence and exchanged 20 rounds of bullet, sources said.
In an hour-long gunfight, Ukhia thana SI Ekramul Haq, Md Kibria, Amir Hossain, constable Jamshed were wounded when bullets lodged in their hands, legs or head, police said.
They have been admitted into Ukhia Upazila Health Complex.
Confirming the incident Prodip Das said, police conducted a raid in the area later and arrested bullet-hit gang leader Mujibur Rahman alias Monia dakat, 30, and his accomplice Badsha Miah, 30.
The left leg of Monia was torn off by the gunshot. Monia and Badsha were admitted to the upazila health complex. Later, Monia was taken to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital in the morning as his condition deteriorated.
Police also recovered five bullets, two long-range guns, a light gun and a sharp weapon from them.
Monia, son of Abul Manzur of Palongkhali union under Teknaf upazila, is accused in five robbery cases with the Ukhia police station.
Police said, at least five other dacoits were injured during the battle but could not be arrested as they managed to flee into the nearby jungle.
Two separate cases were filed.