Three more killed in 'shootouts'

Three people, including the prime accused in a police official murder case, were killed in “shootouts” with law enforcers in Pabna, Brahmanbaria and Jessore yesterday.

The dead are Rubel Hossain and Jibon. Identity of another deceased could not be known.

Rubel, son of Idris Ali of Diar Baghoil village in Pabna's Ishwardi upazila, was the prime accused in the Assistant Town Sub-inspector (ATSI) Sujaul Islam Suja murder case, police said.

Suja was found dead on a field near Pakshey Railway Station on October 5 last year. He was posted at the Pakshey police camp.

Ishwardi Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Biman Kumar Das said law enforcers arrested Rubel from near his home around 11:00pm on Tuesday. Later, a police team along with Rubel conducted a drive to arrest his associate Ibra Hossain.

“When police reached Natunpara area near the Padma river around 11:30pm, Rubel's associates opened fire on them, forcing the law enforcers to fire back,” he said.

Rubel was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot, while his accomplices managed to flee the scene. His body was sent to Pabna Medical College morgue for an autopsy.

Sub-Inspector Hasan Toufik and three constables were slightly injured in the incident, police claimed.

One firearm and two bullets were recovered from the spot, the OC claimed.

BRAHMANBARIA

An alleged robber was killed in a “gunfight” between his cohorts and police at Bariura in Sarail upazila early yesterday.

The deceased, Jibon Miah, 30, was the son of Maharam Miah in Munshihati village in the upazila.

Being tipped off that a gang of robbers were preparing to commit robbery on Dhaka-Sylhet highway, a team of police conducted a raid there around 2:00am, claimed Rupak Kumar Saha, officer-in-charge of Sarail Police Station.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the robbers opened fire on police, prompting them to retaliate, he said, adding that Jibon died on the spot.

Jibon stood accused in nine robbery cases, police said.

A homemade gun, seven bullets and three sharp weapons were recovered from the spot, said Sub-Inspector Abdul Alim.

Three policemen -- constables Johirul Islam, Abdul Aziz and Robiul Islam -- of Sarail Police Station were injured in the incident, police claimed.

JESSORE

An alleged robber was killed in a “gunfight” with police at Satighata Bazar on the Jessore-Manirampur road in Sadar upazila early yesterday.

The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately.

Elias Hossain, officer-in-charge of Jessore Kotwali Police Station, said on information that a gang of robbers were preparing to commit robbery on the road, a team of police conducted a drive there around 2:30am.

Sensing the presence of the police, the robbers opened fire on them, prompting the police to fire back. One of the robbers was injured in the gun battle, while his associates managed to flee the scene, he added.

The injured robber was rushed to Jessore Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Police claimed to have recovered some sharp weapons and a piece of rope from the spot.