Homicide suspect killed in ‘crossfire’

A suspected criminal, who was accused of murdering his cousin, was killed in a "gunfight" between his cohorts and police in Bancharampur upazila early yesterday.

The dead, Sujan Mia, 26, was from Jagannathpur village in the upazila.

Police claimed that he was one of the most-wanted criminals and accused in a case filed over the murder of his cousin Mahbub Hasan Babu on Sunday morning.

The case was filed with Bancharampur Model Police Station hours after the killing incident, said Salahuddin Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of the police station.

He said a team of police raided Bhelanagar area to arrest Sujan and his accomplices around 2:30am.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire on police, prompting them to fire back that triggered a gunfight.

Sujan was caught in the line of fire while the others managed to flee.

Police later rescued Sujan from the spot and took him to Bancharampur Upazila Health Complex where the duty doctor declared him dead.

Five policemen were injured during the incident. They are Assistant Sub-Inspector Monirul Islam, Constables Mofizul Islam, Nurul Amin, Monirul Islam and Mubarak Hossain.

They are undergoing treatment at Bancharampur Upazila Health Complex.

Police also recovered a firearm, four bullets and domestic weapons from the spot.

Sujan was accused in at least six cases, said the OC.

Police sent the body to Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy.