2 more killed in reported RAB gunfights

Two men were killed in alleged gunfights with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Natore and Rajshahi districts on Tuesday night.

One of the deceased is Kabil Hossain, 45, from Char Gobindapur village in Baraigram upazila of Natore while the other person, killed in Tarash Uttarpara of Rajshahi city, could not be identified immediately, reports UNB.

In Natore, a man was killed in a reported gunfight with RAB men in Baraigram upazila of Natore on Tuesday night.

Deceased Kabil Hossain was a suspected drug trader, claimed RAB.

Sensing the movement of some people near Mahishbhanga community clinic, a team of RAB-5 challenged them around 11:45pm, said Azmal Hossain, commander of RAB-5.

Following the RAB challenge, the people opened fire on the law enforcement members, forcing them to fire back in self-defence, he said.

After a brief gunfight, the RAB members recovered the bullet-hit body of Kabil, who was wanted in a dozen of cases, Azmal added.

RAB-5 members also recovered yaba tablets from the spot, he said.

In Rajshahi, an unidentified ‘criminal’ was killed in a reported gunfight with the RAB members in Tarash Uttarpara of the city on Tuesday night.

AM Ashraful, deputy commanding officer of RAB-5, said a patrol team of RAB conducted a drive in a mango orchard in the area on suspicion around 10:45pm.

Sensing the presence of the force, a group of criminals who had gathered in the orchard opened fire on them, prompting them to take action, he added.

Later, the RAB members arrested a man with bullet injuries and took him to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead, Ashraful said.

The RAB men also recovered 57 bottles of phensedyl and arms from the spot, he added.

Prothom Alo, however, could not verify the law enforcement’s versions of the incidents independently as no versions of them were available immediately either from any witness or members of the victims’ families.