‘Huji militant’ killed in B’baria ‘gunfight’

An alleged regional commander of banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad Bangladesh (Huji) was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria early today.

Deceased Tajul Islam Mahmud alias Mama Hujur, 45, of Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj was trying to organise the militant group in the region, police said.

Tajul was a key accused in a case filed for killing local Kabiraj (herbal medicine practitioner) Farid Mia, our local correspondent reports quoting Md Mohiuddin, officer-in-charge of Kasba Police Station.

After gleaning information from another accused in the case, police came to know the whereabouts of Tajul, the OC said.

Later, a police team conducted in Kuti area where the militants gathered in order to carry out subversive activities around 1:30am, Mohiuddin said.

Sensing presence of police, the militants hurled at least 14 crude bombs targeting police, prompting them retaliate with gunfire.

At one stage Tajul was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot, the OC said.

The body was sent to Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

A total of 35 cocktails, a pipe gun and several bullets were recovered from the scene.