‘Robber’ killed in ‘gunfight’ with Kushtia cops

An alleged robber was killed in a “gunfight” between his associates and police in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia early today.

Deceased Ashadul Fakir, 36, was accused in several cases, including seven for murders, filed with Mirpur Police Station.

On secret information that a gang of robbers, numbering 10-12, was preparing to commit robbery blocking the Kushtia-Meherpur highway by placing a log, a team of police conducted a drive in Kaligarh Math area around 2.30am, said Kazi Jalal Uddin, officer-in-charge of the police station.

Sensing presence of police, the bandits opened fire on the law enforcers, prompting them to retaliate, triggering a gunfight that left Arshadul dead.

Police recovered two shutter guns, six bullets, some sharp weapons and a machete from the spot.

Asadul, son of Ejahar Ali Mandal and a resident of Radhanagar village in the upazila, was also an active member of outlawed party Purbo Banglar Communist Party (ML Lal Pataka), police claimed.