Ershad Shikder's accomplice Saddam drowns

But police said could not find his body till Saturday. Search by divers was continuing.

The witnesses said fleeing bullet-hit Saddam jumped into the river and is missing since then.

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Saddam's wife said her husband was killed by joint forces.

But AC of Kotwali zone MA Alif refuted the allegation and said joint forces traded shots with Saddam and his gang Friday night at Skid Ghat.

Saddam's younger brother Elias Hossain said his brother died after receiving bullets on head.

A woman handling worker at Skid Ghat --Champa Begum --said she saw bullet-hit Saddam jumped into the river from the ghat. Since these he has been missing.

Saddam was the ringleader of an organised gang of pilferers of goods from rail wagons. He went into hiding after arrest of Ershad Shikder, but surfaced again early last year with the blessing of a top BNP leader.