Criminals take on law enforcers in 4 city gunfights

Four gunfights between law enforcers and criminals took place in the city's Gulshan, Pallabi, Mirpur and Turag areas yesterday leaving an alleged mugger killed and four other criminals wounded. In an incident, Mohammad Manik, 32, was killed in a shootout between police and his cohorts on Banani Staff Road in Gulshan early yesterday.Police said they chased a gang of five to six muggers when they were trying to rob a pedestrian at around 12:30 am.The muggers opened fire on the law enforcers who also retaliated it leading to a gunfight, a sub-inspector of Gulshan Police Station said.They found Manik with bullet wounds after the criminals fled the scene, he added.Manik was rushed to National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) where he died in the afternoon.In another incident, two alleged muggers Shamim and Rubel were wounded in a shootout between police and the gang in Pallabi area at about 1:00 am. Police said the criminals opened fire on them in a bid to snatch one of their accomplices from the law enforcers. The law enforcers also shot back starling a gunfight and Shamim and Rubel were found with bullet wounds after the criminals left the spot, police said.They were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Talking to The Daily Star at DMCH, Shamim claimed himself to be a tea vendor while Rubel, an electrician.Yet in another incident, one criminal was wounded in a gunfight between Rab and his cohorts in the city's Turag area yesterday.Rab said, the criminals opened fire on Rab men when they raided the house of drug peddler Nazmul Hasan to recover arms. A gunfight ensued that left Eqramul Islam Babu wounded, it added.Later, Rab held Babu along with two pistols, 41 bullets and three snatched mobile phone sets. In Mirpur, mugger Rabiul Islam Babu was wounded in another shootout between Rab and his accomplices near Bangladesh Krishi Bank Institute at about 2:30 am.Some muggers opened fire on the law enforcers when they chased them. When Rab shot back, Babu received bullet wounds. His accomplices, however, managed to leave the spot. Babu was held along with a pistol and four bullets.