Man dies in ‘shootout’ with police in Munshiganj

A man named in drug peddling and robbery cases has died in an alleged shootout with police in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila.

The shootout took place in Upazila’s Katakhali Haydrabad village around 2:30am on Thursday, said Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Munshiganj Police Station.

The man has been identified as 37-year-old Saiful Islam alias Baba Arif, a resident of Upazila’s Mireshwarai village.

He was a drug peddler named in a series of cases, according to police.

Arif was detained with 110 yaba pills from Durgabari village around 10pm on Wednesday, said OC Alamgir. A police team later took him along on a raid to track down weapons when his accomplices opened fire on them.

“Police retaliated in self-defence and Arif was wounded during the gunfight. He was rushed to hospital where the doctors declared him dead.”

Sub-Inspector Aslam and his assistant Kalam were injured in the incident and admitted to Munshiganj Sadar Hospital, OC Alamgir said.

A loaded shotgun and two sharp weapons were recovered, he said.