2 killed in ‘gunfights’ with police, RAB

Two members of outlawed groups were killed in separate incidents of ‘gunfights’ with member of police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Thursday. In Chuadanga, a RAB team reportedly came under gunfire attack while they were conducting a regular patrol at Khaskora Bazar in Alamdanga upazila around 1am on Thursday. The elite force members fired back at the attackers, triggering a gunfight that lasted for about half an hour. Later, the RAB members recovered the dead body of Oltu, a top leader of outlawed organisation Purbo Banglar Communist Party, along with a one-shooter gun and several rounds of bullets. Chuadanga Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Tarikul Islam said Oltu was wanted in six cases including one for extortion. In Rajbari, another extremist leader Kadam Ali alias Karam, 36, Rajbari regional commander of outlawed organisation Lal Pataka, was killed in a reported gunfight with police early hours on Thursday. Rajbari Detective Branch (DB) Officer-in-Charge Obaidur Rahman said Karam was detained from Hemayetpur area of Dhaka on Wednesday evening in connection with five cases including the ones related to murder, arms and narcotics. A police team took Karam to Dolandi village to recover illegal firearms around 3:30am on Thursday. At that time, the arrestee’s accomplices fired gunshots at police. As police fired back, a gunfight ensued between the sides. Karam was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot.