One dies in Lakshmipur

A suspected criminal has died of bullet injuries in Lakhsmipur and police has been blamed for killing in a fake encounter.

The dead, Ismail Hossain Khokan, 38, was the second-in-command of a local criminal outfit, police said.

Khokan was accused in several cases, they said.

Sub-inspector Md Zillur Rahman of Lakhsmipur Sadar Police said that Khokan was found with bullet wounds in both legs around 11 pm Monday at a orchard in Dighuliya Union.

He died at the Sadar Hospital where he was taken.

Locals, however, said Khokan along with an accomplice were detained by the police the previous night.

One Faruk Hossain told bdnews24.com that Khokan and Sabuj Hossain, 18, were nabbed by Daserhat Police's sub-inspectors Kamal and Sarowar.

Hossain was found detained at the Lakhsmipur Sadar Police Station on Tuesday morning.

bdnews24.com's Jhenaidah correspondent spoke with him with police's permission.

"Police detained Khokan and me. They then whisked away Khokan in a microbus and brought me to Lakshmipur Police Station. I've no idea where they took him," said Hossain.

But the police version is different.

"A police patrol went to the area on hearing of firing and found Khokan with bullet wounds," said sub-inspector Zillur Rahman.

He, however, failed to provide any details of the shootout.

"Hossain has been arrested as he is accused of robbery, but I don't know anything about Khokan," said sub-inspector Kamal Hossain, who, according to locals, arrested both Hossain and Khokan from Bhuiyarhat Bazaar.