PABNA:  A suspected outlawed party leader was killed in a ‘shootout’ between his cohorts and police at Alokdia ground in Santhia upazila early Sunday.

Police said they recovered two firearms with fresh bullets and two country-made arms from the scene of the reported gunfight.

The dead was identified as Abdur Rashid, 55, regional commander of the banned leftist outfit Lal Pataka (ML). Rashid was wanted in three cases, including a murder, police said.

Santhia thana OC Rabiul Islam told banglanews24.com.bd that, acting on a tip-off that the underground party members were holding a clandestine meeting at Alokdia ground, a police team raided the area at about 3 am.
“As the law-enforcers reached near the ground, the outlaws opened fire on them, forcing police to fire back. At that stage, the outlaws retreated,” the OC said.

Later police recovered the bullet-riddled body of Rashid from the scene.

BDST: 1235 HRS, SEP 5, 2010