3 ‘robbers’ killed in two separate ‘gunfights’

Three suspected robbers were killed in two separate “gunfights” with law enforcers in Barguna and Brahmanbaria districts early today.

In Brahmanbaria, an alleged robber was killed and five police officials were injured in what police claimed a gunfight between his cohorts and police in Kaitala village under Nabinagar upazila.

The deceased, Jabed Mia, 40, son of late Edhan Mia, was an accused in nine cases, reports our Brahmanbaria correspondent quoting Chittaranjan Paul, additional police superintendent of Nabinagar circle.

He was arrested on Sunday night for involvement in a theft case, claimed police.

Acting on information that a cache of arms was hidden near Bhanga Bridge, a team of police took him to the spot. “When we took him to Bhanga bridge of local Moheshpur road around 3:15am last night, his associates opened fire and tried to snatch him away from us,” the police official said.

“As the law enforcers retaliated, a gunfight ensued and Jabed got shot by his associates. Jabed was rushed to Nabinagar Upazila Health Complex where duty doctors declared him dead,” he added.

Police recovered a locally made pipe gun, six rounds of cartridges and four sharp weapons from the spot, Aslam Sikder, officer-in-charge of Nabinagar Police Station, said.

Meanwhile, in Barguna, two suspected robbers were killed in a gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion in Majherchar area of Patharghata upazila early today, reports UNB.

The deceased were the members of notorious gang 'Hasan Bahini', Hasan Al Rajib, wing commander of Rab-8 was quoted as saying. The identities of the deceased could not be ascertained immediately.

When a patrol team of Rab-8 chased a trawler in the Bhaleshwar river around 6:00am the gang members took shelter in Majherchar, he said.

When the Rab members reached the spot, the robbers opened fire on them, prompting them to retaliate, triggering a gunfight.