2 PBCP leaders killed in ‘gunfight’

Staff Reporter :
Two suspected criminals, including the second-in-command of an outlawed organisation, were killed in separate incidents of “gunfights” between their cohorts and law enforcers in Khulna and Jessore on Tuesday.
Three police personnel also sustained minor injuries in the “gunfight” that took place in Jessore.
Touhidul Islam Sabuj, 28, the second-in-command of Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Phultala upazila of Khulna district while Rabiul Islam, 28, the second-in-command of local gang ‘Mesbah Bahini,’ was killed in another “gunfight” with joint forces
in Abhoynagar upazila of Jessore. Sabuj, has been identified as the son of Selim Sheikh of Damudar village in Phultola upazila.
He was a fugitive facing nine murder cases. Three more were filed under Arms Act.
The “gunfight” took place around 6:00pm on Monday when Sabuj along with his cohorts were holding a clandestine meeting at a field in the Chhatiantola area in the upazila, said the OC of Phultola Police Station.
Acting on a tip-off, the police team led by OC Fakir raided the area to hunt them. After nearly one-hour “gunfight”, police found bullet-hit Sabuj lying in a pool of blood while his accomplices managed to flee the scene.
Police took him to Phultola Upazila Health Complex where he succumbed to injuries nearly eight hours after the incident, the OC added. Police recovered two firearms, 19 bullets, six handmade bombs and two machetes from the spot.
In Jessore, police arrested Rabiul Islam, son of Abdur Rab from Magura village in the upazila, on Monday in connection with a mugging case.
Acting on his information, the members of joint forces conducted a drive at Ziadanga village of the upazila around 2:00am to recover arms, Syed Mostafa Kamal, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Kha Circle) in Jessore said reporters.
As soon as the law enforcers reached near a bamboo cluster of the village, the cohorts of Mesbah opened fire on them, prompting the joint forces to retaliate, the ASP said.  
During the 20-minute “gunfight”, Islam tried to escape the clutches of law and came in line of fire.
Critically injured Islam was taken to Abhoynagar Upazila Health Complex where duty doctor declared him dead.
Sub-Inspector Moktar Hossain, constables–Anwar and Monirul–also injured in the incident. After the “gunfight”, law enforcers recovered a pistol and two bullets from the spot.