‘Robber’ killed in Kushtia ‘gunfight’

An alleged robber was killed in what police described as gunfight on Kushtia-Meherpur highway in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia early today.

The deceased Akterul Islam alias British Zillu, 30, son of Shamsul Islam of Barobaria village in the upazila was a member of an inter-district robber gang, reports our local correspondent quoting police.

Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a drive at Nimtola point on the highway when a gang of robbers numbering six to seven was preparing for a heist around 3:00am, Kazi Jalal Uddin, officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station said.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the robbers opened fire on them, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate, triggering a gunfight, the police official added.

The gunfight left Akterul dead on the spot while his other associates managed to flee away.

Police recovered a rifle and 2 bullets from the scene.

Akterul was accused of at least six robbery cases lodged with different police stations including Mirpur, the OC said.

The body was sent to Kushtia General Hospital for an autopsy.