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Oops! Kingpin survives 'shootout'
[Bangla Daily Star] The police early yesterday announced the death of Parag kidnap kingpin Ameer in a "shootout" at Tongi. But a drama unfolded three hours later, around 7:00am.

Doctors found the man alive soon after law enforcers took the "body" to Tongi Upazila Health Complex.

After he regained consciousness at the health centre, he claimed himself to be Moktar Hossain and said the police had shot him at close range after blindfolding him.

But his wife Beauty confirmed to local journalists that he was Ameer.

Monirul Islam, inspector of South Keraniganj Police Station and investigation officer of the Parag abduction case, filed two other cases yesterday. One was against the couple for possessing firearms and ammunition and another against Ameer alone for attacking police.

Beauty was in the custody of Tongi police along with her four-year-old son Abeer and domestic help Rubi as of 9:00pm yesterday, sources said.

Ameer was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with bullet injuries in the chest and head.

Around 4:55am yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman of Dhaka Metropolitan Police sent a text message asking this correspondent to contact DB Inspector Saidur Rahman.

Contacted within minutes, the inspector said, "Ameer was killed in an encounter when we raided a house at Tilargati-Singpara of Tongi around 3:45am.

"After a tip-off, a joint team of DB and Keraniganj police raided a house at Tongi and an incident of shootout took place between them and Ameer."

The law enforcers repeatedly knocked on the door and broke in when nobody responded. Ameer, sensing their presence, opened fire, forcing them to retaliate, he added.

Later, police found Ameer lying in a pool of blood in the room and considered him dead as two bullets had hit him in the chest and head, Saidur added. They sent the "body" to Tongi Upazila Health Complex.

Tongi Police Station officer-in-charge Ismail Hossain said, "As doctors found Ameer alive around 7:00am, they suggested taking him to DMCH."

Police also picked Beauty, her son and domestic help, who were in another room during the "shootout".

Sanwar Hossain, a senior assistant commissioner of DB South, who led the drive to arrest Ameer, said, "We thought Ameer had died in the shooting."

During the shootout, three coppers -- Inspector Mejbah Uddin Ahmed and sub-inspectors Azizul Huq Miah and Mominul Huq -- suffered injuries as they bumped into stairs and walls while trying to dodge bullets.

Police said now that 42-year-old was alive, he was shown incarcerated
Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
along with his wife Beauty Begum, 32. They also claimed a seizure of two pistols and 85 bullets from the couple's possession.

But according to Rajbari police and Rapid Action Battalion officials Ameer was arrested Tuesday night along with his accomplice Al-Amin at Goalanda in Rajbari. But till yesterday, the police kept on denying the arrest.

Sources said after unofficially keeping him for interrogation, Ameer was taken to his Tongi residence for recovery of his illegal arms. He was shot after the arms and ammunition were found.

On the morning of November 11, an armed gang kidnapped Parag after shooting the kid's mother, sister and their driver when they were getting into their car for school.

Three days later, the boy was freed at Atibazar in Keraniganj reportedly against a ransom of Tk 50 lakh.

Police and Rab so far arrested 11 persons including Ameer in connection with the kidnap.

Posted by: Fred 2012-11-25
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=356786