Man killed in ‘gunfight’ with cops

A man was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Natore’s Lalpur upazila early yesterday, police said.

Md Sumon alias Manik, 48, was a resident of Purbatengri Sherpara area in Pabna’s Ishwardi upazila.

Natore police, in a press briefing yesterday, told the journalists that Manik was accused in 15 cases filed over different charges, including the murder of one Alok Bagchi on June 15.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl SP) in Natore Harun-or-Rashid told press that police had arrested Manik from Ishwardi on Friday.

He was held in another case filed on charge of shooting a college student before snatching his motorcycle on July 5 in Natore’s Baraigram upazila, Harun added.

Addl SP in Natore Akramul Islam told The Daily Star that a team of police was conducting drives to arrest Manik’s accomplices taking him along with them.

When they were crossing Gopalpur area around 2:00am, Manik’s cohorts opened fire on them, forcing them to fire back, the official said.

Manik was caught in the line of fire when he tried to escape the prison van, he added.

Later, police took him to Lalpur Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, Akramul said.