3 ‘robbers’ killed in Cumilla ‘gunfight’

Three suspected robbers were killed in a reported gunfight with DB police at Beribadh in Burichang upazila early Monday.

The deceased were identified as Babul, 39, son of Joynal Abedin of  Debidwar upazila, Ershadul, 26, son of Tajul Islam of Brahmanpara upazila, and Oli Mia, 43, son of Abul Hashem of Burichang upazila.

Tipped off, a team of police conducted a drive in the area around 2:45 am, said Mainuddin, officer-in-charge of Cumilla DB police.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the robbers opened fire on police, forcing them to fire back in self-defence.

At one stage, the three 'robbers' were caught in the line of fire and sustained bullet injures while the others managed to flee the scene.

Later, they were taken to Cumilla Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared them dead. All of them were wanted in a number of criminal cases, said DB OC Mainuddin.

Four policemen, including officer-in-charge of Burichang Police Station Akul Chandra Biswas, were also injured in the gunfight and they were given first aid.

Police recovered one pistol, one pipe-gun, a number of bullets and sharp weapons from the spot.