'Robber' killed in 'gunfight'

An alleged robber was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Magura sadar upazila early yesterday.

The dead, Kamal Hossain Sarder, 40, of Shawladanga in the upazila, was accused in five robbery cases filed with different police stations of the district, police said.

On information that a group of robbers was preparing to commit a robbery by blocking the Kushtia-Khulna highway with logs, a patrol team of the police station went to raid the area, said Azmol Huda, officer-in-charge of Magura Sadar Police Station.

The robbers opened fire on the law enforcers. A gunfight took place as police fired back, the OC said, adding that at one stage, robbers fled the scene.

Police later recovered the body of Kamal from Moghirdhal area on the highway. He was alleged to be a leader of an inter-district gang of robbers.

One locally made rifle, one machete and a saw were also recovered from the spot, the police official said.

With the latest one, three robbers have been killed in gunfights with police in the district since January, the OC added.