 Two more killed in 'crossfire' Two more suspected underground party members were killed in 'encounter' with the Rapid Action Battalion and the police in Jessore and Chuadanga early Sunday raising the crossfire death toll to 303 since June 2004. The deceased were Siddique Gazi, 35, a regional leader of Purba Banglar Communist Party (ML-Janajuddha), and Jasim, 35, a ringleader and second-in-command of extremist Nuruzzaman Laltu. In Jessore, Siddique accused in at least six cases, including two murders, was arrested on Saturday afternoon from his Baliadanga residence by RAB. | "Afternoon, Sid. Youse coming with us." |
On the basis of his statement, RAB was taking him to a brickfield at Chungutia in Noapara industrial area to recover firearms. | Ah, the old deserted brickyard in the dead of night gag. A classic! |
But on the way, the associates of Siddique opened fire on RAB to snatch away their crime boss at about 2:45am. | The light's betteer at 2:45 am, y'see... |
RAB also fired back triggering a gunfight. | Nothing like being fired upon to "trigger" a "gunfight". That's assuming there was another party involved, of course. |
At one stage, Siddique was killed after being caught in the 'crossfire'. | The local press doesn't believe it either. They just play along to avoid being taken for a late nite ride themselves. |
RAB men also recovered one Pakistan-made gun and some bullets from the spot. | Pak-made weapons! The best in... ummm... the area. |
In Chuadanga, Jasim wanted in a number of criminal cases, including murder, was arrested by the detective police with the help of the Chuadanga police from Akanbaria on Saturday afternoon. He was killed in an 'encounter' between his associates and the police when the police took him to Akanbaria under Sadar upazila in Chuadanga at about 4:00am. | "Encounters" occur when they don't take him back to the station and extract a "confession" first. |
Eight hurt as bombs go off at Bagerhat circus
Eight people were injured, two of them critically, in two explosions at a circus in Bagerhat stadium on Saturday night. The officer-in-charge of Bagerhat Police Station said two bombs went off at the circus in the local stadium at 11:50pm. A trade fair was going on in the stadium at the same time.
| So many targets, so little time. |
Shahida, 30, and Monir, 14, were admitted to Bagerhat General Hospital in a critical condition. The other injured are receiving treatment at Khulna Medical College and Hospital. Police yesterday arrested four suspects -- Munna Talukder, Ismail Hossain Milon, Mizanur Rahman Dablu and Al Amin -- from the town. A team of senior officials from Bagerhat police and intelligence men are interrogating them.
"Your moustachio wax, sir!"
"Thank you. The number 4 truncheon, please! We'll begin slowly this evening!" |
A senior police official said they are trying to find out whether the bombs were planted there or hurled at the circus. Authorities have closed the circus but the trade fair is on amid tightened security measures. The town has been put on high alert and several check points have been set up.
The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) is preparing a list BDNEWS, Dhaka:The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) is preparing a list of businesspersons, who are allegedly patronising dreaded criminals. | As opposed to your normal, average everyday criminals |
| Those bidnidmen do that all the time. I saw it on Walker, Texas Ranger. I really liked the part where the bad guy drove off in his limo with Walker in hot pursuit and then got out of the car when he wrecked it so Walker could beat him up. |
The list will include the businesspersons who seem otherwise clean but keep ties with gangsters for their own interests, said a Rab high official asking not to be identified. "Such an initiative to keep the records of the 'businessmen-godfathers' with the help of the latest technology is underway for the first time," the official added. He said the Rab is preparing the list based on intelligence reports, analysis of newspaper reports and complaints lodged by people. Pichchi Hannan in his confessional statement before his death in 'crossfire' had named his godfathers including a few influential businesspersons, he added. "Not only Pichchi Hannan, many other dreaded criminals have named apparently clean businessmen as their godfathers."
| Which might explain why they ended up dead. Hard to testify in court when you're dead. |
The Rab is checking financial records and political connections of the businesspersons and their associates while preparing the list, said sources.
| Why is it the words "blackmail" and "extortion" come to mind? |
The Rab has arrested about 1,000 criminals since the launch of the elite force on March 26 last year. Since then, more than 90 alleged criminals were killed in 'crossfire' or 'encounters' with the Rab.
'RAB committed to curbing crime'
Lieutenant Colonel Hasinur Rahman, commanding officer of the Rapid Action Battalion 5 stationed in Rajshahi, said the battalion was committed to curb crimes at any cost. In a news briefing Saturday morning in the battalion office, he told journalists that his men had been trying to arrest the Islamist vigilante leader, Bangla Bhai. 'No one is above law and no criminals will be spared,' said Hasinur. He said the people who are dying in encounters are hardened criminals. He said the battalion in Rajshahi had been successfully nabbing terrorists and recovering drugs. He hoped to eliminate terrorism shortly. He also vowed to make the region drug free. He indicated that a crackdown will begin soon to arrest ring leaders and smugglers. Hasinur said the battalion was well aware of extra-judicial killing and said the battalion had engaged in no such act. He asked whether a serial killer retains the rights to live at all.
| In civilized countries they used to haul them in front of a judge before bumping them off, but I don't think there are any places like that left... |
Sources in the battalion said the unit had been trying its best to arrest three suspected criminals — Panna of Bagha, Lal Chand of Lalpur and Shukchand of Daulatpur. They said the criminals had been able to avoid arrest as such criminals stay in remote areas. Hasinur said the battalion wanted to work closely with the people and information gathered from them will be used to arrest criminals and to recover drug substances. The battalion members said modern technology along with database systems, finger print detection system, DNA test and modern forensic laboratories should be used to identify criminals. |