Jhenidah: An outlawed party leader was killed in a ‘shootout’ between his supporters and police at Kamalnagar village in Shailakupa upazila early Saturday, official sources said.

Police said Nasirul Islam alias Suknal, 50, the chief of his own underground group styled Suknal bahini, was wanted in 10 cases, including four for murders. Earlier, he was associated with the banned outfit Sramajibi Mukti Andolan.

Shailakupa thana officer-in-charge Anwar Hossain said that, acting on a tip-off, a police team raided Kamalnagar village where Nasir and his associates were holding a clandestine meeting at the dead of night.

As the force reached near Jalbhanga Bridge, the outlaws opened fire on them, forcing the law-enforcers to fire back.

“Shuknal was caught in the crossfire amid the gunfight that ensued and killed on the spot. His sidekicks managed to flee the scene,” the police said in a spot account of the shootout.

Police later recovered the body and a single-shooter gun, a pipe-gun and four spent bullets from the scene.

The armed encounter also left a sub-inspector and a constable of police injured, the OC said.

BDST: 11:00 am, 5 June 2010
BK/MRH/LY/MUA