Outlaw killed in Khulna ‘shootout’

A regional leader of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party was killed in a “shootout” with police in Phultola upazila of Khulna early today.

The deceased is Monirul Islam, 32, son of Abdus Sattar of Alka village in the upazila.

Five police personnel were also injured during the incident, reports our Khulna correspondent.

Md Ilias Fakir, officer-in-charge of Phultola Police Station, said a joint team of Detective Branch and Phultola police arrested Monirul from Kalia upazila headquarters of Narail district around 10:00pm yesterday.

As per his confessional statement, police along with Monirul launched a drive at Dhopakhola around 2:30am to recover hidden firearms and arrest his associates, the OC said.

Sensing their presence, the cohorts of Monirul opened fire targeting the team, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate with bullets that triggered a “gunfight”.

After a half-an-hour “gun battle”, police rescued bullet-hit Monirul lying on the ground when all of his cohorts fled the scene, the OC said.

They rushed Monirul to the local upazila health complex where doctors declared him dead, he added.

Police recovered three shutter guns, six bombs and seven cartridges from the scene.

According to police, Monirul was accused in eight cases – six for murders, one each for attempting to murder and possessing explosives.