Key accused in attack on Ansar man killed in 'gang gunfight'

The key accused over the attack of an Ansar man in Benapole two weeks ago was killed in a "gunfight" between two criminal gangs early yesterday, police said.

The "gunfight" took place hours after the death of the Ansar member, who was fatally injured in the attack at Benapole land port as he tried to foil an attempted theft.

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The man killed in the gunfight is Ripon Hossain, 30, of Chotoachra village in Jessore's Benapole.

Ilias Hossain, officer-in-charge of Jessore Kotwali Police Station, said Ripon suffered bullet injures when two criminal gangs were exchanging of fire near a school at Panchbaria in Jessore Sadar upazila around 1:30am yesterday.

On information, police went to the spot and took Ripon to Jessore Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead, said the police official.

The OC said Ripon stood accused in a number of cases. He was the key accused in the case filed in connection with attacking  the Ansar man, Firoz Hasan, 31.

Feroz, of Baskshipur village in Jhenidah's Shailakupa, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 5:00pm on Wednesday.

Witnesses said on the night of November 15, some criminals, led by Ripon, attacked Feroz at the land port while he was on duty. They beat him up with iron rods and hammers.

According to sources of the port, Feroz caught two accomplices of Ripon when they were stealing imported goods from the port. The two were later handed over to police.

Following this, Ripon along with his aides attacked Feroz.

On November 16, a case was filed against 10 people with Benapole Port Police Station, mentioning Ripon as the prime accused.

Contacted, Ripon's father claimed that his son was picked up by some plainclothes men from their home around 9:00pm on Wednesday.

However, police said they were unaware of the incident.