A regional leader of the outlawed Lal Pataka, a faction of Purbo Banglar Communist Party was killed in a “shootout” between police and the gang in Mirpur upazila of the district early yesterday.
Police said the deceased Rahat Ali, 45, was leader of a criminal gang called “Rahat Bahini” and was accused in 11 cases, including five for murder.
Rahat was the son of Nawab Ali of Bashbaria in the upazila.
Acting on a tip-off, police raided Kursha High School around 3:45am, where the outlaws were holding a “secret” meeting, said Chokdar Abdul Halim, assistant
superintendent of police (Mirpur circle).
Sensing police presence, the criminals opened fire on the law enforcers prompting them to retaliate that triggered an hour-long gunfight.
Rahat was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot, though his associates managed to flee the scene, Halim said.
Police recovered a 9 mm pistol, 8 bullets and 6 bombs from the scene.
Earlier on November 12, 2001, Rahat was arrested with seven firearms in his possession including an AK-47 rifle, following which he was sentenced to 46 years of
rigorous imprisonment by Kushtia District and Sessions Judge’s Court in 2002.
However, he obtained bail in 2005, and began to organise the members of the outfit.
Earlier on August 4, Abdul Jalil, another regional leader of the same outfit, was killed in another “shootout” with the police at the same village.
A total of eight incidents of “shootout” have taken place in Kushtia since January this year as opposed to 18 incidents last year.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
