3 cops killed, 7 hurt as train hits their van

At least three constables were killed and seven of their colleagues injured after a train hit a police van while it was crossing a level crossing in Syedpur of Nilphamari district last night.

The deceased -- Mahidul, Shamsul and Shariful -- were constables of Syedpur Police Station, said Zakir Hossain Khan, superintendent of police in Nilphamari district.

The injured, including Officer-in-Charge Ismail Hossen of the station, were rushed to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Zakir Hossain told The Daily Star that the police van plunged into a roadside ditch after the Dhaka-bound Nil Sagor Express train hit it at Dhelapir level crossing around 11:30pm.

The accident happened as there is no gate at the level crossing and the driver could not sense the approaching train, he said.

The police team was in an operation to nab criminals, he added.