3 killed in 'shootouts'

Separate "gunfights" between police and alleged criminals left two "robbers" and a "drug dealer" dead in Rangpur and Magura early yesterday.

In Rangpur, two "robbers" -- identified as Moshiur Rahman, 37, from Alampur under Taraganj upazila and Bijoy Chandra, 32, from Kursha-Boloram under Rangpur Sadar upazila -- died during a "gunbattle" that took place near Lengtisera Bridge on Dinajpur-Rangpur highway in Taraganj upazila.

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According to police, they dispatched a team to the spot on information that a 10-member gang of highway robbers, including Moshiur and Bijoy, were getting ready to rob passengers in vehicles on the highway.

As soon as they arrived at the scene around 3:00am, the gang started to retreat while firing gunshots at the law enforcers. The two "robbers" died on the spot as police also returned fire, said Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of Taraganj Police Station.

He said both the deceased were accused in robbery cases filed with the police station and several firearms, sharp weapons and a cell phone were recovered from the spot.

The corpses were sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for autopsy, Latif added.

In Magura, a "drug dealer" died on the spot during a "gunfight" between their gang and the police, reports our Jhenidah correspondent.

The deceased was identified as Juban Ali, 50, son of Sohrab Hossain from Thalahara village under Magura Sadar upazila.

Ajmal Huda, officer-in-charge of Magura Sadar Police Station, said, a police patrol unit was fired upon when it raided a "drug dealers" meeting being held in Thalahara village under Magura Sadar upazila around 3:00am.

Juban sustained bullet injuries and died on the spot as the police returned fire in self defence, the OC said.

Police recovered a pistol and three bullets from possession of the deceased and sent the corpse to Magura Sadar Hospital for autopsy, he said, adding that 13 cases were filed against Juban with Magura Sadar Police Station for various crimes including dealing in narcotics, rape and rioting.