1 killed in ‘gunfight’ between policemen and ‘robbers’ in Chattogram

A man was killed in what police said was a gunfight in the port city's Dhakshin Kattali area under Pahartali Police Station early today. Police also detained an aide of the deceased during the alleged gunfight.

The deceased is Md Rasel (27), a resident of Greenview area of Pahartali. The detainee, Yasin (24), meanwhile hails from Cumilla's Laksam.

"The gunfight took place between a group of robbers and police at Barunighata Nijum Park area at midnight," Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pahartali Police Station Mainur Rahman told The Daily Star.

Acting on information that a group of men were preparing to commit robbery, a police team went out looking for them.

"Sensing the presence of police, the robbers, including Rasel and his aides Yasin and Jewel started firing on police triggering a gunfight," the police official said.

Police found Rasel's bullet-hit body and sent him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where the on-duty doctor declared him dead, the OC further said. Rasel is an accused in seven cases filed over different charges including murder and robbery, police say.

His body was sent to CMCH morgue for autopsy but the report has not been prepared yet. Police claimed to have recovered two pipe guns, three cartridges and sharp weapons from the spot.