Rape accused killed in Meherpur ‘gunfight’

A man, who was accused in rape and acid-throwing cases, was killed in a gunfight with law enforcers in Meherpur district early today, police said.

The deceased was identified as Yakub Ali Kajal, 30, son of Jalal Uddin of Garadoba in Gangni upazila.

Kajal was accused in two cases -- one filed for rape of a school girl on December 20 last year while another for throwing acid on a housewife on April 8 this year, said Harendranath Sarker, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gangni Police Station.

On Thursday evening, police arrested Kajal from the upazila in connection with the two cases, our Kushtia correspondent reports quoting the OC.

Based on information given by him during interrogation, police took him to a hideout to recover hidden firearms last night.

On the way to the hideout, Kajal’s accomplices launched an attack on the police team to snatch him when they reached Dhola field at Dhola village under the upazila around 3:30am, the OC said.

“The criminals fired on police, triggering the gun battle as police retaliated in self defence,” OC Harendranath added.  

Kajal was hit by two bullets when he tried to flee from the police, the official said, adding that he was taken to Gangni Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead around 4:40am.   

Police also recovered a gun and two bullets from the spot.

CHARGES AGAINST KAJAL

According to Gangni police, Kajal and his gang abducted a school girl of eighth grade on the night of December 20 last year and raped the girl.

The girl’s mother filed a case against Kajal and his four accomplices with Gangni Police Station two days later.

On April 8 this year, Kajal threw acid on a housewife of the village after she refused his illicit proposal. Husband of the victim filed a case with Gangni police, the law enforcers said.

Kajal used to run a gang in the area and carried out various crimes, OC Harendranath added.