Wanted criminal dies in Comilla ‘shootout’: Police

Police in Comilla claim that a 30-year-old man wanted for robbery and attack on law enforcers has died in a ‘shootout’ early on Wednesday.

Belal Hossain alias Zira Suman was declared dead by doctors at a Comilla hospital after police took him there with bullet injuries, according to the Detective Branch.
 
Suman was accused in several cases, including robbery and attacking police, said Detective Branch OC AKM Manjur Alam.
 
According to the police officer, four policemen were also ‘injured’ during the shootout around 2am near the Palparha Bridge in Comilla town.
 
Three others with firearms have been detained from the spot, added OC Alam.
 
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ali Ahsraf Bhuiyan said that a detective branch team, which included himself and OC Alam, were returning to the Comilla town after a raid at Brahmanparha Upazila, when they were attacked by 8 to 10 ‘robbers’.
 
“The windshield of our car was shattered when the robbers opened fire. Police retaliated and the two robbers were shot. Later police detained five including the two wounded,” he said.
 
The two, with bullet injuries, were taken to Comilla Medical College and Hospital where Sumon was declared dead, said Detective Branch’s Sub Inspector Shah Kamal Akand.
 
Four fire arms, including a revolver, a knife, a steel bar and masks were found from those detained, he said.
 
Detective OC Alam said that a police officer was shot during a raid to nab Suman on Nov 6 last year at Comilla’s Jhautala.
 
Suman’s accomplices had then snatched the officer’s pistol.