Two 'robbers' killed in Hatiya 'gunfight'

Two alleged leaders of a robber gang were killed in a gunfight with Rab at Hatiya upazila in Noakhali yesterday.

The two dead were identified as Saiful, 35 and his deputy Shafique, 24.

Saiful was the son of late Ali Ahmed of Kalirchar village in the upazila while Shafique was a son of Dulal Majhi of the same area.

The “gunfight” happened near Chatlar Ghat in Boyar Char of Hatiya early Monday morning. Rab-11 CPC-3 Laxmipur camp's senior assistant police superintendent Md Jasim Uddin Chowdhury said, acting on a tip off a Rab team raided the area. Saiful's accomplices opened fire on the Rab team and the elite force retaliated, he said.

Rab assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Mofizul and Constable Mahbub were injured in the fire exchange. The injured have been admitted to Noakhali 250-bed General Hospital, he said.

Rab recovered six foreign- and locally-made guns, 10 mobile phones and Tk 54,000 cash from the spot.

Saiful with his gang had been robbing fishing boats in the Meghna river and the Bay of Bengal for a long time.  They also used to kidnap fishermen for ransom, Rab officials said.

He was accused in nine cases filed with Hatiya Police Station.

The bodies have been sent to the Noakhali hospital for autopsy.