Two suspected ringleaders of robbers were killed during separate “gunfights” between their cohorts and law enforcers in Jessore and Moulvibazar early Sunday.
Rajab Ali alias Kala Rajab, 45, was killed in Jessore while Babul, 30, in Moulvibazar.
In Jessore, police arrested Rajab from Jhikargachha upazila around 11:15pm last night, said officer-in-charge (OC) of Keshabpur Police Station. Rajab divulged details of his arms den, OC added. Acting on his information, a team of Keshabpur police alongwith Rajab conducted a drive at Keshabpur village home of the alleged robber leader, around 1:45am.
As soon as the law enforcers reached near a bamboo cluster of the village, the cohorts of Rajab opened fire on them, forcing the policemen to retaliate.
At one stage of “gunfights”, Rajab tried to flee but he sustained bullet injuries.
Law enforcers recovered bullet-riddled Rajab from the spot and rushed him to Keshabpur Upazila Health Complex, the police official said. Doctor declared him dead at the upazila health complex.
The associates of Rajab, who opened fire on the law enforcers, however managed to flee the scene, according to police.
Police also recovered a shutter gun, two bullets and a machete from the spot. Rajab was accused in 23 cases including killing and robbery, said OC.
In Moulvibazar, acting on a tip-off that a robber gang was assembling at a rubber garden in Kulaura upazila to commit robbery, police raided it around 2:00am, said Alamgir Hossain, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) in Moulvibazar.
The associates of Babul spread bullets on the lawmen when they reached near rubber garden No. 11, prompting the police to fire back, reports our Moulvibazar correspondent quoting the ASP.
After the “gunfight”, police found the body lying in a pool of blood. Police later recovered several firearms from the scene, the ASP said. The followers of Babul however fled the scene.
