'Criminal' killed in 'shootout'

An alleged criminal was killed in a "shootout" with Rapid Action Battalion at Tongi in Gazipur early yesterday.

The dead is Delwar Hossain alias Delu, 36, of Arichpur at Tongi.

Acting on a tip-off that some criminals gathered near Tongi Noubandor area to share money they had collected through drug trading and realising extortion, a Rab team went to the spot around 2:45am, said Nazmul Hasan Razib, operation officer of Rab-1.

Sensing the elite force's presence, the gang opened fire on them. The Rab team retaliated with gunshots, triggering the “gunfight”.

At one stage, the criminals fled but wounded Delwar was found lying on the spot. He was declared dead after being taken to Tongi General Hospital, the Rab official said.

Rab claimed to have recovered a pistol, two bullets, a magazine, 196 yaba tablets and Tk 10,000 in cash from the scene.

Two Rab men were hurt during the gun battle. They took primary treatment, the Rab official claimed. 

Delwar's body was sent to Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Firoz Talukder, officer-in-charge of Tongi Police Station, said Delwar stood accused in at least 10 cases, including murder, with the police station, reports our Gazipur correspondent.

However, Delwar's wife Mahmuda Khatun told reporters that her husband was a jhut (garment waste) trader. She claimed that she was not aware of her husband's involvement in extortion or yaba trade.