Man killed in Cox’s Bazar 'gunfight'

A man was killed in an alleged gunfight with the members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Napitkhali area of Cox's Bazar early Wednesday, reports UNB.

The deceased is Anwarul Islam, 52, son of late Ershad Ali of Badarkhali village.

He was accused of raping a schoolgirl of the same village on 11 February, according to a press release of RAB-7.

Tipped off, a team of RAB-7 conducted a drive in the village to arrest Anwarul.

Sensing the presence of the elite force, the associates of Anwarul opened fire at RAB members prompting them to retaliate, triggering a gunfight.

Anwarul was caught in the line of fire while the others managed to flee the scene, according to the claim of the law enforcement agency.

Later the elite force members took bullet wounded Anwarul to Chakaria Upazila Health Complex where physicians declared him dead.

The RAB’s version of the incident was, however, not verified independently as no version of the event was available either from any witnesses or from the victim’s family immediately.