Crackdown on criminals
1killed in 'shootout', 25 held in four dists
A listed criminal was killed in 'shootout' and 25 were arrested as police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) started special drive in southwestern Kushtia, Chuadanga, Jhedidah and Meherpur districts on Monday midnight.
On Tuesday night, criminals blasted bombs in Jhenidah, injuring a bus owner.
In Kushtia, gang leader Selim Hossain alias Saltu was killed in 'shootout with Rab at Lahinipara village in Sadar upazila early yesterday. He was second-in-command of criminal gang Kamal Bahini, sources said.
Tipped off, a Rab team raided a house of Lahinipara at about 3:30am when
the criminals led by Saltu started to flee opening fire on the law enforcers, who fired back, resulting in a half an hour-long gunfight, Rab said.
Hit with the bullets, gang leader Saltu died on the spot.
Hailing from Mollateghoria village in Kushtia Sadar upazila, Saltu was a listed criminal and accused in several cases including five for murder, police said.
Kushtia police said they arrested 11 people from different areas of the district under the special drive.
In Chuadanga, ten people were arrested while four were held in Jhenidah.
Criminals blasted four bombs at a bus stand in Jhenidah at about 9:30pm on Tuesday leaving injured general secretary of Jhenidah Bus-Minibus Owners Association Abdullah Baki.
On Saturday, outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML) set postures and distributed leaflets in Chuadanga vowing to 'avenge the killing' of the outfit's founder Mofakhkhar Hossain, who was killed in 'crossfire' with Rab on December 17 of 2004 in Kushtia.
Following threat by the outlaws, Deputy Inspector General of police of Khulna M Asaduzzaman Mia ordered the police officials of four districts to start special drive to nab the outlaws and criminals.
At least 462 'crossfire' killings took place in ten districts of southwestern region since the start of such operations in June 2004.
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