The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Two persons were killed in 'shootouts' between their associates and law enforcers in the capital and Noakhali yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Kala Badsha, 45, leader of pirate gang 'Badsha Bahini'. He hailed form Nijhum Dwip in Hatiya upazila and another dead in the capital could not be identified immediately.

In Noakhali, Kala Badsha was killed in a gunfight between his accomplices and police at Carring Char in Hatiya upazila yesterday.

Acting on a tip-off, police arrested Kala Badsha from Hathazari upazila of Chittagong district Thursday morning.

They along with him went to the char in a bid to arrest his cohorts and recover hidden arms.

But sensing the presence of police, the cohorts of Badsha sprayed bullets on them, forcing the law enforcers to fire back.

"Badsha was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot," said a spot account of the predawn shootout.

Police said Badsha was wanted in a number of murder, extortion, rape and other criminal cases.

Local people said Badsha along with his gang had long been committing piracy in the Meghna River and coastal waters. In the capital, an alleged criminal was killed in a 'shootout' between his associates and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Dholaikhal area.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the elite force cordoned off a place at Dholaikhal where members of a criminal gang gathered.

According to RAB sources, sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire on the RAB men, forcing them to retaliate.

At one stage of the gunfight, the criminals managed to flee the scene, but the unidentified person was found lying dead on the ground.

The body was sent to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.