A notorious criminal was killed and four of his family members and an officer of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) were injured in a gun battle in South Keraniganj on the outskirts of the capital early yesterday.The deceased was identified as Abdul Quader alias Baro Miah Shahin, 30, chief of 'Baro Miah Shahin Group' in city's Shyampur and Jatrabari areas and hailed from Palashur village in Sirajdikhan upazila of Munshiganj.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of around 25 members of Rab-10 led by company commander Major Sazzad Hossain raided the house at Abdullahpur at about 3:00am to arrest Shahin.
At one stage, Shahin opened fire on Rab members prompting the elite force members to fire back. Shahin, wanted in 21 cases, including murder and extortion, was killed on the spot.
Major Sazzad received three bullets in his legs and face during the gunfight and was admitted to Combined Medical Hospital (CMH).
Shahin's one and a half years old nephew Yamin, Yamin's mother Kulsum Begum, 25, Kulsum's mother Noor Jahan, 45, and Yamin's maternal uncle Farid, 22, also sustained bullet wounds and were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) under the Rab custody.
Injured Farid told The Daily Star at DMCH that Shahin fired bullets from the house and Rab also retaliated the attack by firing bullets indiscriminately.
"All of us received bullet injuries during the gunfight. Shahin simultaneously used two firearms in two hands," said Farid.
Farid added that the family members requested Shahin to stop firing and surrender to Rab but he did not respond to their request.
Kulsum, wife of Shahin's expatriate brother, said Shahin and his wife Shahanaj came to their house two days ago to visit her. They were asleep in the veranda of the house when the Rab personnel came, she said.
Rab officials said they recovered one pistol, one revolver, 25 rounds of bullet and two knives from the scene of the battle. They also shown Shahin's wife Shahanaj who remains unhurt and Kulsum's brother Farid arrested.
Two cases were filed with the local police station.