United News of Bangladesh

Two suspected criminals were killed in separate ‘gunfights’ with police in Atrai and Patnitala upazilas of the district early Thursday.   The deceased were identified as Minhajul Islam alias Mintu alias Shikdar, 40, and Zahidul Islam, 38.   Moselm Uddin, officer-in-charge of Atrai Police Station, said they arrested Minhajul, son of Abdur Rahman of Bhartetulia village, from his residence as he was wanted in 10 cases including that of murder on Wednesday night.   Later, police took him with them to recover firearms at Tilabaduri village at night.   “As soon as police reached the spot, Minhajul’s cohorts opened fire. Minhajul was killed during the skirmish,” the OC said.   Police said they recovered a foreign pistol, four bullets and four bombs from the spot.   In a separate incident, Zahidul, son of Rafatullah of Balugha village in Patnitala upazila was killed in another reported gunfight with police.   Parimal Kumar Chakrabarty, officer-in-charge of Patnitala Police Station, said the man was wanted in 12 criminal cases.   He was arrested from Balugha village on Wednesday night and after interrogation, police took him to Bakrail village to recover drugs.   When police reached the spot, Zahidul’s associates opened fire. “He was killed in the ensuing gunfight,” the OC said.   A shutter gun, two bullets, 985 Yaba pills and four sharp weapons were recovered from the spot.   Last year, 376 people were killed in so-called crossfires in Bangladesh, according to Odhikar, a human rights organisation. Of them, 193 died in ‘crossfires’ with police.   In 2018, Bangladesh saw 458 extrajudicial killings.