4 killed in ‘gunfights’ in Cumilla, N’ganj, Cox’s Bazar: law enforcers

Four persons including two alleged robbery gang members were killed in three separate "gunfights" with law enforcers in Cumilla, Narayanganj and Cox's Bazar early today.

The deceased were identified as Md Emon (40) and Md Jahangir (28) of Cumilla's Sadar upazila, Mohammad Mozaher (35) of Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila while police could not ascertain the identity of the person killed in gunfight with Rab in Naranganj, said law enforcers.

Cumilla

Based on a tip-off, a team of police and detectives jointly conducted a drive in Old Loharpool Bridge area of Paulpara around 1:30am, reports our local correspondent quoting Porimol Das, a sub-inspector of Detective Branch (DB) of Cumilla police.

Members of the gang who were preparing for a robbery in the area opened fire targeting the law enforcers upon sensing their presence, the SI claimed.

As police retaliated in defence, a gunfight ensued, he added.

At one stage, the robbers managed to flee the scene, leaving two of their injured fellows behind. Three police officials were also injured in the incident, the police official said.

Police rushed the two bullet-hit robbers to Cumilla Medical College where the doctors declared them dead.

Narayanganj

A team of Rab personnel installed a check-post at Kalni area on Asian Highway after learning that a drug consignment in a private car is heading towards Gazipur, said Major Abdullah Al Mehdi, camp commander of Rab-1 in Gazipur.

"As the car was speeding towards our check-post, we signalled it to stop," he said, adding that passengers in the car started opening fire targeting them, forcing them to retaliate in self-defence.

Later, three passengers fled the scene and Rab personnel found a bullet hit body in the car. The injured was taken to a local hospital where physicians declared him dead.

Rab recovered two foreign pistols, two magazines, six rounds of bullets, 296 bottles of phensedyl and 5kg marijuana from the car.

They also seized the car.

Cox's Bazar

Acting on tip off, a police team launched a drive at Hariakhali village in Teknaf upazila around 1:15am to arrest Mozaher, a fugitive accused in a murder case filed with Teknaf Police Station.

Sensing their presence, Mozaher and his cohorts opened fire on law enforcers, forcing them to retaliate -- triggering a gunfight, said police.

At one stage, Mozaher was shot while his cohorts managed to flee the scene, said Pradib Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station.

He was rushed to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, the OC said.

Three policemen -- sub-inspector Iftekharul Islam, constables Sikander and Mahfuz -- were injured in the gun battle, the police official claimed.