2 killed in ‘shootouts’

 An alleged drug peddler was killed in a "gunfight" with Rab at Banani in Dhaka early yesterday.

The dead Abdul Jalil, 45, an inhabitant of Banani's Korail Slum, was accused in at least 16 cases with different police stations, said Md Kamruzzaman, an assistant director of Rab-1.

The Rab official said the "gunfight" took place around 12:30am when a team of Rab-1 raided near T&T Bottola area on information that drug peddlers gathered there.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the gang opened fired, prompting the Rab officials to retaliate, triggering the "gunfight" that continued for around 10 minutes, he claimed.

Later, the gang members seized firing and backed off leaving the bullet-hit body of Jalil behind. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead, Kamruzzaman added.

A Rab personnel was also injured during the incident, he claimed.

Rab claimed to have recovered two firearms, twelve bullets and 500 pieces of yaba pills from the spot.

Meanwhile, another man was killed in a "gunfight" with police in Khilgaon.

The dead Billal Hossain, 29, was accused in at least 16 cases for robbery, mugging and murder, said Arsel Talukder, a sub-inspector of Khilgaon Police Station.

The SI said a team of police picked Billal up on Thursday afternoon form Goran area and the "gunfight" took place when they took him in Shekher Jaiga area to arrest his accomplices around 11:30pm on Thursday.

Sensing presence of police, the criminals opened fired at them, prompting them to retaliate, triggering the "gunfight", leaving Billal wounded with bullets, he claimed.

He was rushed to DMCH where doctors declared him dead, Arsel said.

The bodies were kept at DMCH morgue for autopsy.

The Daily Star, however, could not independently verify the law enforcers' claims.