Two wanted criminals were killed early yesterday in separate “gunfights” between their cohorts and law enforcers in Khulna and Jessore.
The deceased are Rabiul Islam, 28, the second-in-command of criminal gang Mesbah Bahini (killed in Jessore) and a leader of the outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party Touhidul Islam Sabuj (killed in Khulna), 28.
In Jessore, police said members of joint forces went to Ziadanga village in Abhaynagar upazila to recover arms with Rabiul, who was arrested in connection to a mugging case earlier on Monday. At the spot, members of Mesbah Bahini opened fire on them, prompting the joint forces to retaliate.
During the 20-minute “gunfight”, Rabiul tried to escape and came into the line of fire. He was rushed to Abhaynagar Upazila Health Complex in a critical condition, where the duty doctor declared him dead. Four police members were also injured during the gunfight, our Jessore correspondent added.
In Khulna, Phultola police station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Elias Fakir said, “Sabuj was killed in a gunfight that occurred in Phultola upazila after police raided the area.”
After the one-hour “gunfight”, Sabuj received bullet wounds and was rushed to Phultola Upazila Health Complex where he succumbed to injuries nearly eight hours after the incident, the OC added.