'Gunfight' with Rab: Two 'robbers' killed in city

Two alleged robbers were killed in a “gunfight” with Rab members in the capital's Tejgaon area early yesterday.

The dead -- Jamal, 38, and Nayeem, 35, -- were members of a local robber gang, claimed Mohiuddin Faruque, company commander of Rab-2.

Each of them was accused in at least 10 cases filed with different police stations across the country, the Rab official added.

The Rab team set up a check-point in Tejgaon on information that the alleged robbers would make off with a stolen lorry through that area.

When the Rab members signalled the vehicle to stop around 4:00am, the “robbers” opened fire on them, forcing them to retaliate, Mohiuddin claimed.

The two sustained bullet injuries during the “shootout” and were pronounced dead after being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), he added.

The bodies were kept at the DMC morgue for autopsies.

Rab seized the vehicle and recovered a firearm, two sharp weapons and several bullets from the scene.

Mohiuddin claimed the gang stole the lorry from Dhaka's Rayerbazar area on March 10.

The gang has been active in the city and nearby areas for a couple of years, Rab officials said.

The Daily Star, however, could not independently verify the Rab's claims.