Cop murder suspect killed in ‘shootout’

A man suspected of shooting dead a detective on Tuesday was killed in what police say was a gunfight between gang members and law enforcers in the capital's Mirpur early yesterday.

Hasan Ali, 26, who died in the “gunfight” around 2:30am in Bhanga Bridge area, was the prime accused in a case filed over the killing of DB inspector Jalal Uddin.

The incident took place when a police team, acting on a tip off that the suspected killers of the officer had gathered in the area, carried out a raid there, said Mohammed Mokhlesur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Detective Branch (west) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Sensing law enforcers' presence, the gang members opened fire, forcing the officers to retaliate, he said, adding that the “gunfight lasted a few moments”.

After the gunfight, police found Hasan lying on the ground. Doctors pronounced him dead after he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The other gang members fled the scene, he said.

On Tuesday night, several detectives including inspector Jalal carried out a raid in Pirerbag area to trace two firearms stolen from police in January.

During the drive, Jalal climbed to the second-floor sunshade of an under-construction building when suspected gang members shot at him.  The officer died at Square Hospital hours later.

Detectives said Hasan, the prime accused in a case filed over the incident, managed to flee the scene at the time.

They added that Hasan had been arrested on multiple occasions on charges of mugging and theft in Pirerbag area.

After yesterday's gunfight,        detectives claimed to have recovered three pistols, including the two stolen ones, and five bullets from the     scene.

Two DB men were injured in the incident, they added.

Hasan's body was kept at Dhaka Medical College morgue for an autopsy.

On January 11, unidentified     criminals broke into the flats of DMP traffic sergeants Mamunur Rashid and Sohel Rana and stole two pistols, 16 bullets, two magazines, and two mobile phones.