JCD leader, 4 activists caught during bus dacoity in Sylhet

Police later identified them as Mahmud Hossain Shamun, General Secretary of South Surman Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and four activists of the party-- Quamrul Islam, Faizul Islam, Jamal and Abdul Mannan.

Quoting passengers and villagers, police said that when the Beanibazar-bound night coach from Dhaka-- Rupashi Bangla -- reached Rotuli village in Barlekha at about 6 am, two private cars overtook it and blocked the road. Another private car stopped behind the coach.

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As gunshots were fired from the cars, the coach driver sensed trouble and drove back, hitting and damaging the car behind it.

Meantime, passengers got down. Nearby villagers also came hearing a hue and cry. They caught the five daoits.

The two cars in front of the bus drove towards Beanibazar to escape.

As police came, the five dacoits were handed over to them. Police also seized the damaged car (Dhaka metro-Ga-1954).

Barlekha police gave a message to Beanibazar police. Beanibazar police put up a barricade on the road near the Beanibazar thana building.

As police intercepted the two fleeing cars, dacoits fired shots from inside.

About 20 shots were traded there, injuring a policeman. Rickshaw puller Zillu Miah, 22, was also injured in the cross-fire.

The dacoits managed to escape but left the two vehicles (Sylhet-Ka-11-0022 and Dhaka Metro Ka-03-5259).

Beanibazar police found one sawn-off rifle, one SBBL gun and a cartridge in the vehicles.