'Mugger' killed in 'gunfight' with cops

A suspected mugger was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Bosila Garden City area of the capital's Mohammadpur early yesterday.

The dead, aged around 45, could not be identified immediately, said police.

A 37-year-old Hannan was also injured in the incident. He was admitted at National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, added police.

GG Biswas, officer-in-charge of Mohammadpur Police Station, claimed a police team set up a checkpoint in the area around 2:30am on information that a mugging gang was supposed to gather there.

Sensing police presence, the muggers who were riding a car sped up their vehicle in front of the police checkpoint. At one stage of chasing and counter chasing, the criminals opened fire on the law enforcers, forcing them to retaliate, he added.

The duo was injured in the “gunfight”. Of the two, one was taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared him dead, claimed the OC.

Police also claimed to have recovered the car, a firearm and six bullets from the spot.

To verify the law enforcers' claim, this correspondent visited the area yesterday afternoon but found no one who heard gunshots at the night. The correspondent spoke with at least 30 persons in the area.

Asked about the specific location of the occurrence at the Garden City, the OC said he could not specify the area as the incident took place at night.

Nobody claimed the body at the hospital morgue as of filing this report at 6:30pm.