Suspected robber killed in 'gunfight' with police

A suspected robber has been killed in an alleged gunfight with police in Tongibari area of Ashulia in the early hours of Friday. The dead was identified as Rubel, 25. He was son of Lal Mia from Lokkhidar of Ghatail, Tangail Police sources said he was a member of a local gang of robbers and was involved in the killing of a bus driver with a machete during a highway robbery in February near Sreepur of Ashulia. They said upon receiving information of the robbers whereabouts, a team of Ashulia police conducted a raid in Tongibari area around 3am. Sensing their presence, the robbers started firing at them and the police fired back in retaliation. Police said Rubel sustained bullet injuries in the gunfight and was declared dead after he was taken to a hospital. Other members of the gang fled the scene soon after Rubel was shot. They recovered weapons and bullets from the scene. Confirming the incident, Ashulia police station ASI Abul Kalam Azaz said: “Rubel was a member of a local gang of robbers and has numerous cases filed against him in different police stations. “The body has been sent to Dhaka Medical College for autopsy and a case will be filed with the station in this connection.”