Shootout: 1 killed, 2 hurt in cop custody

A man was killed and two others were shot during a “gunfight” with police while in their custody in Fulgazi upazila early yesterday.

The dead is Kazi Ekram Hossain alias Saiful, 28 and the injured are Yunus Ali, 20, and Emdadul Haque, 26. All of them were from Pathan Nagar village in Chhagalnaiya upazila.

The trio were arrested on Friday.

A close relative said Saiful was a local contractor who used to supply soil to different brick kilns.

“He locked in an altercation with a brickfield owner over supplying soil on Friday. Following that incident, they had a scuffle with police later,” said the relative requesting anonymity. He alleged that the rivalry had cost his life.

Police claim Saiful along with 10 to 12 youths attacked two of their colleagues, who had prevented them from extorting the owner of a brick kiln named GM Hut Bricks on Friday.

A case was filed in connection with the incident.

The police arrested the trio at a house in Pathan Nagar village that night and handed them over to Fulgazi police.

Based on their information, law enforcers along with the trio conducted a drive around 4:00am to arrest their accomplices and recover weapons, said Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Fulgazi police.

“When police reached near GM Hut Bazar, Saiful's accomplices opened fire on them. The police also returned the fire. During the gunfight that ensued, Saiful and the other two tried to run away but received bullet wounds,” he added.

Saiful was taken to Feni Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead. Yunus and Emdadul were admitted to the hospital under police protection.

Eight policemen were also injured and received treatment at Fulgazi Upazila Health Complex, the police claimed.