An alleged ringleader of a forest robber gang was killed in a gunfight with police in Swarankhola Bazar area of Swarankhola upazila near the Sundarbans early yesterday.
The deceased was identified as Billal Hossain Farazi, 45, son of Khoka Farazi of North Saralia village of Morelganj upazila and head of Billal Bahini, a forest robber gang of the upazila.
Swarankhola police station Officer-in-Charge Md Rezaul Karim said on a tip-off, a team of joint force conducted a drive when the robber gang was staying at an abandoned garden in Panirghat area of the upazila.
Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the robbers opened fire at them, forcing the team to retaliate that triggering a gunfight.
The ‘gunfight’ lasted for about half an hour, leaving Billal dead on the spot and another robber gang member Farhad bullet wounded in his right leg.
However, other members of the robber gang except the dead one managed to flee the scene by a trawler.
Three police personnel were also injured in the gunfight.
Later, police recovered a double-barrel gun, a gun, a night shooter and 500 bullets from the spot.