2 'robbers' killed

Two suspected robbers were stabbed dead by their fellows accidentally during a scuffle with police at Pahartoli in Chittagong city early Tuesday.

Nurul Islam and Md Alim--two sub-inspectors of Pahartoli Police Station--and Liakat and Hassan--two robbers--were also injured during the incident.

The deceased were identified as Manik, 28, and Selim, 30.

Police arrested eight bandits of the notorious gang and recovered three firearms, 10 bullets, one cartridge, three knives and one rod cutter from the spot.

The scuffle took place when the gang, known as Belal Bahini, attacked the police with sharp weapons on their arrival at City Gate area, reported our Chittagong correspondent quoting Abdur Rouf, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station.

The law enforcers, on information that Belal Bahini is taking preparation to commit a robbery in City Gate area, rushed to the spot around 1:30am.

As soon as the law enforcers reached the scene, the bandits opened fire on them at first and then swooped on them with machetes leading to the 30-minute scuffle, the OC said.

During the fight, four robbers and two policemen sustained injuries, the OC added.

Manik, Selim, Liakat and Hassan were rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where Manik succumbed to his injuries around 2:30am and Selim about 5:30am.

Liakat and Hassan were undergoing treatment at the CMCH under police guard while the two policemen received first aid.

The OC however said that they did not use any firearms during the incident.

The OC told our correspondent that Belal Bahini is involved with the maximum robberies committed in the port city.

Several cases were filed against the gang with Pahartoli Police Station, the police officer added.