Two forest robbers shot in Sundarbans

Two robbers sustained bullet injuries during a 'gunfight' with law enforcers at Kateshwar under Satkhira range of the Sundarbans on Sunday night.

The injured are Abdul Karim, 35, chief of infamous 'Karim Bahini', and Alamin Hossain, 23, a member of the gang. They hail from Chandnimukha village in Shyamnagar upazila of the district.

The duo were arrested and admitted to Shyamnagar Upazila Health Complex.

Enamul Haque, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shyamnagar Police Station,  said  a police team, led by Sub-Inspector (SI) Nazmul Hasan, surrounded  a den of the gang in Kateshwar area at around 11:30pm to arrest the gang members and recover arms from there.

Sensing the presence of the police team, the robbers opened fire, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate.

During the gunfight, Karim and Alamin received bullets while their cohorts managed to flee, the OC said, adding that three policemen -- Sub-Inspector Nazmul, Assistant Sub-Inspector Emran Hossain and constable  Sona Mian -- were also injured.

Police recovered a pipe gun, a machete and a bullet from the spot

Hafiza Khatun, wife of Karim, said locals caught her husband and Alamin from Kholshebunia area in Shyamnagar upazila on Sunday and later handed them over to the police.

"I came to know early yesterday that they were admitted to the hospital with bullet injuries," she said.

OC Enamul Haque said Karim was an accused in an extortion case filed with the police station. Sub-Inspector Nazmul Hasan filed a case yesterday against Karim, Alamin and 10 others of the gang .