BNP man, 2 ‘robbers’ killed in ‘gunfights’

Three, including a root-level BNP leader and two of an alleged robber gang, were killed in separate gunfights, law enforcers claimed today.

In Meherpur Sadar, Ramjan Sheikh, 42, son of late Amir Sheikh from the upailza and BNP vice-president of Pirojpur union, died in “gunfight” with police.

Police detained Ramjan last night and later took him on to a weapons-recovery drive, our Kustia correspondent reports quoting Ahsan Habib, officer-in-charge of Meherpur Sadar police.

“Around 2:30am, some of Ramjan’s associates tried to snatch him away. They fired on police, our forces were also compelled to fire back. A gunfight was triggered.”

After the battle subsided, Ramjan was found lying injured on the spot. Rushed to Meherpur Sadar Hospital, on-duty doctor Abu Ehsan Md Razu declared him dead.

One light gun, two bullets and some sharp weapons were recovered from the spot.

Police said Ramjan was wanted in 6 cases including those for attacking police and planning to carry out subversive activities.

Sharifa Khatun wife the BNP activist alleged that police arrested her husband from his house early Saturday.  “They told me that Ramjan will be sent to court when I went to police station.”

In the Sundarbans, Munir Khalifa, chief of Munir Bahini, and his deputy Nur Muhammad, were killed in encounter with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab).

The gunfight took place in Chandpai range around 7:30am, said Lt Col Faridul Alam, commanding officer of Rab-8, told The Daily Star. “A 30-minute gunbattle took place.”

Their bodies were found lying on the spot. Local fishermen identified the duo. Eighteen firearms, 407 rounds of bullets and seven sharp weapons were recovered.