Two killed in 'crossfire'

Two suspected ring leaders of robbers were killed in separate incidents of "crossfire" between their cohorts and law enforcers in Jessore and Moulvibazar early yesterday.
With these two deaths, as many as 35 people have so far been killed in "crossfire" in alleged shootouts with police, Rab and joint forces since January this year, according to reports from different media and rights bodies.  
The deceased were identified as Rajab Ali alias Kala Rajab, 45, of Keshabpur in Jessore, and Babul, 30, of Moulvibazar, report our district correspondents.
Rajab was accused in 23 cases, including murder and robbery, said Abdul Jalil, officer-in-charge (OC) of Keshabpur Police Station.
Police arrested Rajab from a place in Jhikargacha upazila around 11:15pm on Saturday, the OC said, adding that during preliminary interrogation, Rajab divulged details about his arms den.

On information extracted from Rajab, a police team took him to his village home in Keshabpur to recover firearms around 1:45am.   
When the law enforcers arrived near a bamboo cluster of the village, Rajab's associates fired at them. A gunfight ensued when the policemen fired back.
At one stage, Rajab tried to flee the clutches of the law and came in the line of fire and sustained bullet injuries.
Police rushed him to Keshabpur Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, the OC said, adding that Rajab's associates managed to flee.
A shutter gun, two bullets and a machete were recovered from the spot.
In Moulvibazar, police raided a rubber garden in Kulaura upazila around 2:00am following a tip-off that a gang led by Babul was taking preparations to commit a robbery there.
The associates of Babul sprayed bullets on the law enforcers when they approached the garden. In retaliation, police fired back, triggering a "gunfight", said Alamgir Hossain, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) of Moulvibazar.
Later, police found Babul's body lying in a pool of blood. His associates managed to flee the spot, police said.
The law enforcers recovered several firearms from the scene, the ASP said.
Meanwhile, family members of two persons, who were killed in a "shootout" between their associates and police, yesterday alleged that law enforcers had picked them up and shot them dead.
Police took Ariful Haq Jewel, 32, and Salauddin, 30, alias Dakat Salauddin to Shutikhalpar Balur Math in the capital's Jatrabari on Saturday to recover firearms, police said.
But Babul Chowdhury alleged that police had picked up his brother-in-law Jewel in front of many people and later shot him dead.
"Jewel was involved in a water supply business in Kaptan Bazar area. He was not a criminal as there was no case filed against him," he told The Daily Star.
Salauddin's elder brother Syed Hossen told The Daily Star that his brother took shelter inside a house at Fatema Petrol Pump lane after being chased by police.
He later phoned his younger sister with an appeal to save him, Hossen said.