An alleged criminal, who was arrested on charge of carrying out subversive activities during the ongoing blockade, was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with Rapid Action Battalion(Rab) members at Kansat in Shibganj upazila early Friday. The deceased was identified as Matiur Rahman, 22. Commanding officer of Kansat Rab-5 camp, Major Kamruzzaman Pavel, said the elite force arrested three people, including Matiur Rahman, on charge of picketing, torching vehicles and exploding crude bombs during the 20-party-enforced blockade on Thursday afternoon. After interrogation, the Rab members conducted a drive in Kansat area along with Matiur to recover arms around 3:30 am, he said. When the Rab team reached the area, the accomplices of Matiur numbering 40-50 hurled crude bombs targeting the Rab vehicle and opened fire at the law enforcers, prompting the elite force to retaliate, triggering a gunfight. Matiur Rahman was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot while the others managed to flee the scene, Kamruzzaman said. However, the Rab member recovered two shutter guns, two LG guns, one pistol, one revolver, 17 crude bombs, 10 petrol bombs and five rounds of bullets from the spot. – UNB
