Outlaws' den busted in Pabna shoal, one killed
13 firearms recovered, 19 arrested; raids to continue, says DIG
Our Correspondent, Pabna
Joint forces yesterday busted an outlaws' den in Dhalar Char, a remote shoal on the Jamuna in Pabna district. Alleged outlaw Munna was killed in the shootout while the law enforcers arrested 19 suspected criminals and recovered 13 firearms, sources in the joint forces told newsmen. But the law enforcers could not say which outlawed party Munna belonged to. Police said Munna faces several cases including five for murder. Dhalar Char, surrounded by Jamuna tributaries, is about 60 kilometers from Pabna district town. The remote shoal area was known as a den of outlaws and criminals who took shelter there as there was no action by law enforcers since 2000, the sources said. Outlaws belonging to the two factions of Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) took shelter there, intelligence reports said earlier. Four hundred law enforcers including 52 members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and 40 army personal took part in the operation led by Pabna Additional District Magistrate Mahbubul Alam. The operation was launched following intelligence reports from Pabna and Rajbari police. The joint forces cordoned the area at about midnight on Saturday. Sensing law enforcers' presence, the criminals opened fire. As law enforcers returned fire, Munna allias Robber Mona was killed. He was son of Nasir Ali of Shukchor village in Pabna Sadar upazila. Law enforcers said most of the outlaws managed to flee as the escape routes are known to them. "It was a well planned operation. Law enforcers cordoned the whole area and then raided houses to nab outlaws and criminals", DIG Rajshahi Region AKM Shahidul Haque told newsmen who visited the spot after the raid. About 9000 people live in the big shoal. They are compelled to shelter outlaws and criminals, locals said. Special operation will continue to arrest outlaws in the district, the DIG said. The 13 recovered firearms include one rifle, a .22 (point two two) automatic gun, four foreign made revolvers, seven shutter guns and 66 bullets. "As it is a remote area, there was no massive operation in last six years" Pabna Police Superintendent AFM Masum Rabbani told this correspondent. The last raid was launched in 2000 when sub-inspector Hadaitulla of Pabna police was killed in shootout. "The outlaws fled away but they may regroup there again", Pabna Rab ASP Tanvir Arafat said.
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