Rape accused killed in 'gunfight'

An alleged rapist was killed in a “shootout” with Rapid Action Battalion in Kurushkul village in the early hours yesterday.

The dead was identified as Mohammad Selim, 22.

Selim was an accused in several cases, including one for rape, filed with Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station. He was accused of raping a three-year-old girl on Biman Bandar Road on August 23, Major Ruhul Amin, company commander of Cox's Bazar Rab-7, told The Daily Star.

He said they arrested Selim in New Fishery Ghat area on Monday. Getting information from him, a Rab team conducted a drive in Kurushkul area around 2:00am to arrest his associates and recover firearms, he added.

Sensing presence of Rab officials, his associates opened fire on the elite force, prompting them to retaliate, the officer said, claiming, Selim died on the spot receiving a bullet fired by his associates.

Selim's associates, however, managed to escape, said Major Ruhul. The Rab recovered a foreign pistol and one round of bullet from the spot, he added.

Ranajit Barua, officer-in-charge of Cox's Bazar police, said Selim's body was sent to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy.