 2 killed in RAB crossfire in Barisal, Pabna
Two more suspected leaders of underground parties were killed in shootouts between their associates and the Rapid Action Battalion in Barisal and Pabna on Monday, tallying the total death figure in ‘crossfire’ and ‘encounter’ to 294 from June 2004. In Barisal, Jalal Bepari, 40, an alleged regional leader of the Kamrul group of the underground Sarbahara Party, was killed in ‘crossfire’ of the battalion and his associates at Babuganj early Monday. In Pabna, Alamgir alias Tiger Alam alias Bangal Alam, another suspected underground party leader, was killed in an ‘encounter’ of the battalion and his associates at Iswardi on Monday. Jalal was wanted in a dozen criminal cases including murder, extortion, and rape, claimed the battalion. The battalion arrested Jalal Bepari at Goalpara Khal of Babuganj Sunday morning. | "Morning, Jal. How ya doing?" |
Based on his statement, a battalion team started for Brahmandia at Agarpur in the Babuganj police area early Monday. | No doubt looking for arms, cohorts, etc... |
As they reached Goalpara Khal at about 4:15am, Jalal’s associates fired on the battalion, which fired back. Jalal was killed in the ‘crossfire’ as he tried to get away. The team recovered a pipe gun with three bullets. | Never fired, dropped many times. |
Earlier at noon on Sunday, Jalal denied all allegations against him including any of his involvement with Sarbaharas while he was talking to the press at the Barisal battalion camp. He claimed that there was no case against him except a case of cutting trees from a disputed piece of land. He said he was a campaigner for Golam Kibria Tipu, a local Jatiya Party candidate in the past general elections. | "I'm just an innocent tree-chopper." |
The Pabna battalion claimed they went to Khairdair village at Iswardi at about 11:00am on a tip-off that a gang of robbers gathered there for a meeting. ‘When the battalion reached the place, the bandits opened fire on them forcing them to fire back,’ said an official statement of the battalion. Alam was hit by bullets during the ‘encounter’ and died on the spot. | "Remember, class. If the perp is under arrest at the time of the incident, it's a "crossfire". If he's gunned down during the arrest, you check the "encounter" block on Form 14b. Any questions?" |
The battalion recovered a rifle, a pipe gun, two cartridges and two sharp knives from the place. Alam had been in hiding after being sentenced to life-term imprisonment in a highway robbery case. He was also wanted in a dozen of other cases, including two murders.
Alleged criminal injured in shotout
An alleged criminal was injured in a shootout between police and the accomplices of the criminal at Khilgaon in the small hours of yesterday. Earlier, acting on a secret information, a team of Khilgaon Thana police arrested Miah alias Majnu (36) who was accused in a murder case in front of Monwara Hospital under Ramna police station. According to police, following the confessional statement of Majnu, police raided a rickshaw garage at 218/1, Maradia under Khilgaon police station and recovered two revolvers and ten rounds of bullet at around 2.30am yesterday. As the police personnel along with Majnu reached Sadat Building at Maradia under Khilgaon police station the accomplices of the criminal open fire on the policemen in a bid to snatch away Majnu. The policemen instantly fired back. As a result, Majnu received bullet injuries. | "Ouch, ouch...hey, I'm not dead!" |
Bullet hit Manju is undergoing treatment at the Emergency Department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). A case was filed with Khilgaon police station in this connection.
25 bullet-hit as fleeing robbers open fire
Twenty-five people were shot yesterday when robbers fleeing a burglary opened fire on locals at Fatullah in Narayanganj. About 14 armed robbers snuck into the house of Shahjahan Mian at Sastapur at 3:30am, tying up guard Mizan. When Shahjahan's family, becoming aware of the robbers, raised an alarm, locals rushed to the house and cordoned it off. | "They're robbing Mian's place! Sound the alarm! Git your rope!" |
The robbers then fled, but the locals chased them for about 2 kilometres, braving a hail of bullets as the gang opened fire on them. | That's brave. Stupid, but brave. |
Masum, Jewel and Afzal sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Dhaka. Among the other injured, Yasin, Soleman, Golap, Joynal, Momen, Aman, Hridoy, Jasim, Misir Ali, Badal, Jamal, Sajib, Babul, Mannan, Ambar Ali, Arif, Johnny, Taslima and Sohel were admitted to a local clinic. The incident set off a panic among locals. | "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!" |
Although a case has been filed with the Fatulla Police Station, no one was arrested as of yesterday afternoon. Three months ago, robbers looted Tk 10 lakh and gold ornaments weighing about 25 tolas from the flat of Shahjahan's brother, Shahjalal, in the same building. Locals alleged that police are inactive despite repeated incidents of robbery in the area. | This is why they put up with the RAB wacking the bad guys. |
Alleged mugger killed in police firing
A suspected snatcher was shot dead by police near Bijoy Saroni in the city on Sunday night. The dead was identified as Md Shohel (25), son of Shamsul Huq. He hailed from Patabogh under Sreenagar police station in Munsiganj district. According to police sources, a gang of muggers numbering five stopped rickshaws near Bijoy Saroni Road under Kafrul police station at around 9.30 pm on Sunday and tried to snatch valuables from the passengers of the rickshaws. | "Stick um up! We be highwaymen!" |
As the patrol police challenged the muggers they hurled several cocktails at police personnel. | "It's da coppers! Let em have it!" |
Police had to fire upon the criminals. As a result, Shohel was hit by several bullets in different part of his body. | "Ouch..ouch..ouch..ouch.." |
But the rest of the criminals managed to flee. Police recovered three cocktails and a knife from the spot, police sources said. The bullet-hit Shohel was rushed to the Emergency Department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in critical condition where he succumbed to his injuries. Talking to the newsmen at DMCH morgue one Shafiqul Islam said that Shohel was working in his business house and also living in his 17/E, Manipuripara residence under Mirpur police station adding that on Sunday at around 3.30 pm he sent Shohel along with his driver Shaheen to BRTA office. After finishing the work Shohel went to his cousin’s house at Mirpur, he said. As Shohel became under attack of muggers police shot at him presuming him as snatcher, he added. | "That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!" |
Shamsul Huq, father of the victim, claimed his son innocent. Shohel had a one and half years old daughter. A case was filed with Kafrul police station in this regard. |