2 outlaws killed in Kushtia 'crossfire'

2 outlaws killed in Kushtia 'crossfire' Star Online Report Two top outlawed party leaders were killed in separate incidents of 'crossfire' between police and their cohorts in Kushtia early today. The dead were identified as Marfat Hossain, 40, son of Ishaq Biswas of Ailchara in sadar upazila, and Biplob, 33, son of late Tofazzel Hossain of Kataikhana area in Kushtia district town. Marfat was one of the top leaders of Gono Bahini (GB) while Biplob was that of Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF). The first 'shootout' took place at Ailchara village where the GB cadres got into a gunfight with police at about 3:30am, reports our Kushtia correspondent. According to police, a team of sadar police raided Ailchara when the GB cadres led by Marfat were holding a meeting beneath the Ailchara Bara Bridge. The police cordoned off the area and asked the outlaws to surrender. But the criminals opened fire, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate that triggered the gunbattle. The body of Marfat was found on the spot after the operatives fled the scene. Police recovered a shutter gun and eight bullets from the spot. Marfat was accused in six cases including for murder and abduction filed with Kushtia sadar and Islamic University police stations. In another incident, a police team led by Assistant Police Super (ASP) Alamgir Hossain raided Chadgara Eidgah ground after information that outlawed GMF was holding a meeting there at about 5:00am. Sensing the police, the GMF cadres led by Biplob opened fire on police, forcing the law enforcers to fire back. At one stage, the outlaws fled the scene and Biplob was found dead on the spot. Police recovered two LG and nine bullets from the spot. Biplob was accused in a dozen of cases including five for murder filed with the sadar police station. According to police, Biplob recently threatened a police official in the district to kill him. With this, the death toll in the district in ‘crossfire’ reaches 21 in last 17 days.