Robber killed during ‘shootout’

A man has died during a ‘shootout’ with police in Magura Sadar’s Bariadanga.

The police claimed the victim, identified as ‘Uzzal’, 40, was the leader of a local robber gang.

Magura Police Assistant Superintendent Sudarshan Kumar Rai said three police personnel were also injured during the so-called encounter.

Weapons including pistols, bullets and machetes were recovered from the spot.

The victim had a number of cases against him on charges of murder and robbery at different police stations in Magura, the ASP said.

A police posse were stopped late on Sunday by a tree trunk placed on the Narail-Magura highway when they were on their way to Shatrujitpur to detain an accused.

Not realising that the car waylaid belong to the police, the robbers took on the policemen in plain clothes who were trying to remove the tree.

Both sides opened fire thereafter. Three policemen were injured during the encounter. Uzzal's body was recovered by locals on Monday morning and handed over to the police.

Later the body was sent to Magura Sadar Hospital for autopsy.