2 killed in 'gunfight' with police

Two alleged extortionists were killed in a “gunfight” with police at a brick kiln in Hariadah of Meherpur's Gangni upazila early Friday.

The deceased were identified as Shipon Ali, 24, and Alamgir Hossain, 26.

Police claimed that both men were members of an organised gang involved in extortion but victims' families say otherwise.

Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gangni Police Station, said following a tip off, he sent a police team to the SAB Bricks Kiln at around 3:00am. A gang had demanded Tk 2 lakh earlier from the kiln.

When the police team reached there, the gang opened fire resulting a gunfight in which Shipon and Alamgir died and four policemen were injured, he claimed.

Police recovered two crude bombs, one homemade gun and two bullets from the spot.

VICTIM'S FAMILIES

Mustahara Begum, Shipon's mother, said her son was a labourer at the brick kilns.

Shipon, father of a three-year-old, left Wednesday noon to attend a wedding at Uzirpur and had been missing since.  

“We even went to Kumaridanga police camp looking for Shipon,” the mother said.

Alamgir's family said he left after receiving a phone call from Shipon around 5:30am on Thursday and had been missing since.

“We went to Gangni police station but to no avail,” Alamgir's uncle Mohammad Ali said.

Alamgir was an accused in five cases, one for murder and four for extortion, the OC said, adding that there were no cases against Shipon.

The Daily Star ran a report on April 12 that extortion at brick kilns by organised local gangs was rampant in Meherpur and Chuadanga districts.

A gang beat up 12 labourers at two kilns of Panna Bricks, two of SAB Bricks and Doyel Bricks in Hariadah of Gangni on April 11. They also stole 12 mobile phones from labourers. The attackers also took away labourer Torikul Islam from Panna Bricks but released him after an hour.

Production was stopped at several kilns in Chuadanga over the situation.