Staff Reporter :Three alleged miscreants were killed in three separate incidents of ‘gunfights’ with the law enforcers in Rajbari, Jessore and Munshiganj districts early Thursday.In Jessore, an alleged terrorist, who had earlier escaped handcuffed from police custody, was killed in what law enforcers claimed a gunfight with police in Putkhali area early in the morning.The deceased was identified as Elias Mridha, son of Suruj Mia of Sadar upazila of Rajbari district.A team of police challenged two motorcycles in the area around 1:30am, said Apurbo Hasan, officer-in-charge of Benapole Port Police Station. Sensing the presence of police, the miscreants riding the motorcycles opened fire on police, prompting the law enforcers to fire back, triggering a gunfight. The gunfight left Elias dead on the spot while his other associates fled away.Two constables of Benapole Police Station received bullet injuries in the incident. Police also recovered two pistols and the motorcycle from the spot.Earlier, Elias Mridha escaped handcuffed from police custody at Kagajpukur while he was being taken to the district court from Benapole Port Police Station on Wednesday.Officer-in-charge of Benapole Port Police Station Apurba Hasan said Elias Mridha, an accused in a case for arms trading, was being taken to Jessore court in a pickup van. As the van carrying him had an accident near Kagojpur area in the evening, he escaped with the handcuff in his hand.On Tuesday night, police arrested Elias along with a foreign-made pistol, two magazines and one round of bullet while he was trading firearms in Benapole Bus Stand area.In Rajbari, an alleged top terrorist was killed in a gunfight with members of Detective Branch (DB) of police at Purbo Alipur village in Sadar upazila early in the morning.The victim was identified as Shahidul Islam alias ‘Pichchi Shahin’, 35, a resident of Baroipara village of the upazila. He was accused in 13 cases, including for murder, abduction and possession of arms.Kamal Hossain, Sub-Inspector (SI) of DB police, said detectives in a drive arrested Shahin from the village on Wednesday night.According to information gleaned from him, a team of detectives went to the village along with him and conducted a drive in a banana orchard in the early morning. However, Shahin’s associates opened fire on the law enforcers who responded with firing in self-defence. Shahin was found lying on the ground with bullet injuries while other criminals fled the scene. Later he was rushed to Rajbari Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead.Sub-inspector Nizam Uddin, Sub-inspector Kamal Hossain, Assistant Sub-inspector Hiron and constable Shafiq were injured in this incident. DB also recovered a foreign-made pistol, one revolver, one shooter gun, seven rounds of bullet and several bullet shells.In Munshiganj, a man was killed in an alleged gunfight with police at Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj early Thursday. The deceased is Sentu alias Pichhi Sentu, 34.Three policemen were also injured in the incident. Police also recovered a revolver, two bullets, two sharp weapons and other lethal weapons from the spot.Officer in-charge of Tongibari police Alamgir Hossain said police arrested Sentu on Wednesday noon from Abdullahpur intersection.Police then conducted a drive along with Sentu in the area at around 3.30am.Sensing the presence of police near the Eidgah ground of the area, Pichchi Sentu’s cohorts opened fire on the law enforcers, prompting them to retaliate, triggering a gunfight, which left Sentu severely injured.Sentu was taken to Munshiganj general hospital. Later, he succumbed to his injuries on his way to Dhaka. Sentu was accused in six cases with the police station.
