‘Robber’ killed in ‘gunfight’ with N’ganj cops

An alleged robber was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Narayanganj’s Araihazar upazila early today.

Abu Saeed alias Choitka, 35, son of Nazim Mia of Jorkardia village in the upazila, was a member of an inter-district robber gang and also accused in at least eight cases, our Narayanganj correspondent reports quoting police.

Some of the cases were filed on charge of robbery and snatching firearms from police, said Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Araihazar Police Station.

Four cops -- Sub inspector Siraj, 47, assistant sub inspector Sabuj Das, 38, constables Liton Mia, 22 and Rafiqul Islam, 38, -- were injured when the robbers attacked them with the lethal weapons, said OC Nazrul Islam.

The injured took treatment at Araihazar Upazila Health Complex, he said.

Acting on a tip off, police arrested Saeed from his in-law’s house in Fausa area in the upazila yesterday evening, the police official said.

Following his confessional statement, police along with Saeed went to Imuldi area to arrest his cohorts around 3:30am, said OC Nazrul Islam.

When police reached the area, other gang members attacked the cop with locally-made lethal weapons in a bid to free Saeed, the OC added.

At one stage, they opened fire on the law enforcers, forcing the police to retaliate, triggering the “gunfight”, he said adding that Saeed came in the line of fire and was shot.

When the robbers managed to flee the scene, Saeed was taken to the upazila health complex where doctors declared him dead, the police official said.

The body was sent to Narayanganj General Hospital for autopsy.