Gang-rape accused among 5 killed in ‘gunfights’

Five people, including an accused in a case filed over a gang rape incident, were killed in reported gunfights in Mymensingh, Habiganj, and Cox's Bazar districts early today.

In Mymensingh, Jahirul Islam, 20, and Jony Mia, 26, were killed in separate “gunfights” with police in Fulbaria and Sadar upazilas, reports our Mymensingh correspondent.

Acting on a tip-off, police launched a drive at Kaladaha in Fulbaria upazila around 2:30am to arrest Jahirul, an accused in a case filed over the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl at Palashtoli village in the upazila on August 3, said Shah Kamal Akanda, officer-in-charge(OC) of Detective Branch (DB) of Police in Mymensingh.

Sensing the presence of police in Kaladah Eidgah area, the criminals shot fires at the police prompting the law enforcers to fire back in self-defence triggering a “gunfight”, the OC who led the drive, added.

Police found bullet-hit Jahirul from the spot and took him to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) where doctors declared him dead around 3:00 am.

A pipe-gun was recovered from the spot. Two policemen were also injured during the incident. They received primary treatment at Phulbaria Upazila Health Complex.

In Sadar upazila, police conducted a drive in Char Puliamari area on information that a group of drug peddlers were gathering there about midnight, said OC Shah Kamal Akanda.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the drug peddlers opened fire on them, forcing them to fire back in self-defence around 12:30 am.

Critically injured Jony was sent to MMCH where the doctors declared him dead, claimed the OC.

Police recovered 200-gram heroin and a knife from the spot.  Sub-inspector Akram Hossain and constable Motiur Rahman injured during the incident and were given primary treatment at Mymensingh Police Lines Hospital.

In Habiganj, a suspected robber, Soleman, was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Dewatali Kalinagar area of Chunarughat upazila, UNB adds.

Md Nazmul Haque, OC of Chunarughat Police Station, said on information that a gang of robbers were taking preparation to commit robbery, a team of police conducted a drive at Kalinagar around 3:00am.

Sensing danger, the robbers open fired forcing them to fire back, which left Soleman injured, the OC said.

Soleman died on way to hospital while four injured policemen were admitted to Chunarughat Upazila Health Complex.

In Teknaf of Cox's Bazar, two suspected drug peddlers, including a Rohingya man, were killed in a gunfight with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) around 3:30am.

The deceased were identified as Nurul Islam, 27, from Kutupalong camp in Ukhia, and Md Delwar Hosen, 30, from Nayabazar area of Howaikong union in Teknaf upazila, Lt Col Md Foysal Hasan Khan, commander of BGB battalion-2 in Teknaf, told our Cox's Bazar correspondent.

Upon information that a boat carrying yaba tablets will enter Bangladesh from Myanmar Via the Naf river, a special team of BGB took position near Kharangkhali area of Howaikong, the BGB official said.

At around 3:00am, four to five people disembarked at the river bank. When the BGB men asked them to halt, suddenly, they started firing at the law enforcers, prompting them to retaliate, he said.

After the gunfight, the law enforcers found two bullet-hit bodies on the spot.

Later, they were taken to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, where the doctors declared them dead.

The BGB team also recovered 20,000 yaba tablets, two locally made firearms, and four rounds of bullets from the spot.