‘Extremist leader’ killed in Pabna ‘gunfight’

A suspected leader of outlawed ‘Zulhas Bahini’ was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with police at Dhalarchar in Bera upazila of Pabna early Wednesday, reports UNB.

The deceased is Zulhas Mandal, 42, leader of a faction of outlawed party Purba Banglar Communist Party and son of Jashim Mandal of Dhalarcahr union in the upazila.

Jihadul Kabir, superintendent of Pabna police, said Zulhas, a top criminal of Pabna, Rajbari and Kushtia region, was arrested from New Market area in Dhaka and then handed over to Aminpur police station in Pabna on Tuesday.

Based on the information provided by Zulhas during primary interrogation, police along with the him conducted a drive around 2:00am to recover arms and ammunition.

When the team reached Dhalarchar area, Zulhas’s associates opened fire on police, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate triggering the gunfight.

At one stage, the outlaws fled the scene and police rescued the bullet-hit body of Zulhas.

Police also recovered two firearms and ammunition from the spot.