A regional leader of Purba Bangla Communist Party (PBCP) was killed early Wednesday in a claimed “gunfight” between police and extremists at Jagannathpur under Damurhuda Upazila of Chuadanga district.
The deceased was identified as ‘Kashem’, 35 alias Mekur Kashem, son of Juran Ali of Boalkhali village in Mujibnagar of Meherpur district.
According to police, Kashem was a regional commander of the banned outfit, PBCP.
The incident also left two police personnel in serous injuries as the gang hurled crude bombs targeting them.
Injured assistant Sub-Inspector Niaz Ali and Constable Khalilur Rahman of Damurhuda police station rushed to the Damurhuda Upazila Health Complex for treatment.
Damurhuda police station OC Ahsan Habib told The New Nation that the shootout took place around 3am at Upazila’s Charuliya area.
Two policemen were injured when the extremists lobbed bombs at the law enforcers, he added.
Kashem had been charged in several cases of abduction, murder and extortion, said OC Habib.
According to him, the police raided a mango grove where 10-12 PBCP extremists were holding a secret meeting. Sensing the presence of police, the outlaws started hurling bombs at the law enforcers triggering the gunfight. At one stage, Kashem was caught in line of fire while trying to flee the spot, he added.
Police recovered a shooter gun, four bullets and four homemade bombs from the spot.
Kashem’s body has been sent to the Chuadanga Sadar Hospital for autopsy.
Kashem was a most wanted criminal on police list. He was accused in 13 cases including eight for extortion, two for murder and three for abduction, which was filed with Mujibnagar and Damurahuda police stations.
