2 key militant operatives killed in ‘gunfight’

Two top operatives of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), who took part in Rajshahi University Professor AFM Rezaul Karim Siddiquee murder and Bogra Shia mosque attack, were killed in a “gunfight” with law enforcers in Pallabi of Dhaka early today.

The deceased were identified as Tareque Hasan Milu alias Ilias alias Osman, hailing from Joypurhat, and Sultan Mahmud Rana alias Kamal.

Pallabi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Dadan Fakir told The Daily Star that the gunfight took place with plainclothes in Lohar Bridge area of Kalshi around 3:30am.

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Tareque was one of the assailants who hacked RU Prof Rezaul to death on April 23, said Monirul Islam, additional commissioner of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

On the other hand, Sultan was one of the armed assailants who stormed a Shia mosque in Shibganj upazila of Bogra, he told reporters in a press briefing held at at DMP media centre.

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Law enforcers received intelligence that a group of militants were inbound to Dhaka. The duo was confronted near Lohar Bridge in Kalshi area and a gunfight ensued, Monirul said.

The bodies have been kept at the morgue of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.