Four alleged robbers were killed in “gunfights” with law enforcers in Barguna and Chuadanga early yesterday.
With this, some 22 alleged criminals were reported to have been killed in such incidents this month. Of them, 14 were killed in the last seven days.
The law enforcers gave almost same description of the incidents.
In Barguna, three "robbers" of a gang were killed in a “gunfight” with Rab in Majherchar area of Patharghata upazila, reports our Patuakhali correspondent.
The deceased are Swapan Pyada, 45, alleged ringleader of the gang, and its two members Liton Khondokar, 35, and Sagor Khan, 50.
Officials of Rab-8 said the gang, locally known as Munna Bahini, was involved in abducting fishermen and honey collectors from the Bay of Bengal and the Sundarbans for ransom.
Acting on a tip-off, the Rab men raided Majherchar area around 5:30am. When the Rab team reached the area, the robbers opened fire. The law enforcers retaliated, triggering the "gunfight", said Hasan Al Rajib, company commander of Rab-8 in Patuakhali.
Three bodies were found on the spot after the "gun battle". The other criminals fled, he said.
Rab also claimed to have recovered seven firearms, 38 bullets and several sharp weapons from the spot.
The Rab official said the gang, led by Swapan, abducted four fishermen from Sonarchar area of Patuakhali on January 4.
Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Patharghata Police Station, said Rab filed a case with the police station in connection with yesterday's incident. Before that, there were no criminal records against the three with the police station, the OC added.
In another incident, an alleged robber was killed in a “shootout” with police in Chuadanga early yesterday, adds our Kushtia correspondent.
The victim is Iman Ali, 28, of Chandpur village.
Ahsan Habib, assistant superintendent of police in Chuadanga, said a police team, led by him, raided the village around 1:30am on information that some robbers were preparing to commit robbery on the highway.
Sensing their presence, the robbers opened fire. Police returned fire, triggering the "gunfight". During the "gun battle", Iman was hit and he died on the spot, while others fled, the police official said.
Another alleged robber was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Rangpur city on Monday, a day after four alleged criminals were killed in similar incidents in Brahmanbaria and Jessore.
