The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The chief hit man of the infamous Imon gang and the main accused of Jubo Dal leader Shibli murder case was killed in 'crossfire' during an encounter between RAB officials and his group at Jigatola in the city early yesterday, official sources said.

A release from the Rapid Action Battalion gave his identity as "serial killer" Taj Mohammad Ponir alias 'killer Ponir', 36, suspected as the main hitman in the group of arrested top-terror Imon, recently brought back from his hideouts in India.

Hailed from Srinagar in Munshiganj district, Ponir was wanted in a number of criminal cases, including murders and abductions, the sources said.

The elite-force RAB said based on the confessional statement of Imon, now on remand, plainclothes RAB troops chased a white microbus at Jigatola crossing because of its suspicious movement.

Sensing the presence of RAB personnel, the microbus turned around and Ponir fired gunshots from the vehicle, forcing the RAB men to fire back, its release said.

He was caught in the crossfire trying to flee the scene at about 3am and died on the spot, it added.

After the gun battle, the law-enforcers recovered a pistol and some ammunition from the micro.

His body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue.

Ponir had started his underworld activities in 1991 through the killing of a man in the city. He also allegedly committed a number of murders, including that of JCD Hazaribagh unit general secretary Shibli in March.

A case was filed with Dhanmondi police station in connection with the encounter.