Two alleged gang members were killed early yesterday at Shyampur in the capital as they were caught in 'crossfire' between the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and the gang named 'Rozen Bahini'."Rozen?"
"Nah, but it is a mite chilly this morning."
According to the Rab, Mosharraf Hossain Sentu, 26, and Rezaul Karim, 23, were members of the infamous Rozen Bahini and they had been dodging arrest for a long time as there are numerous criminal cases including murder cases filed against them
However, family members claimed that Sentu and Rezaul, who were friends with each other, were innocent and a local criminal might have persuaded Rab to kill them.
"Pure as the driven snow, they were! And kind to their mothers."
Rezaul's father Mohammad Ali said there is no case against his son who was a salesman at a Punjabi store at Jatrabari.
The place to go if you want to buy a slightly used Punjabi....
Sentu's uncle Sirajul Islam said there was only one case filed against his nephew for extortion and the case was filed by local criminal Aminul with Jatrabari Police Station. His family members said Sentu came home two years ago after spending five years in South Korea and started a clothing store named Dilruba Garments at Kaliganj in Keraniganj.
The Rab in a press release claimed that Sentu and Rezaul were dreaded criminals and locals were so afraid of them that did not dare to file any case against them.
A team of Rab 10 arrested the two, close accomplices of gang leader Rozen, from Jatrabari's Banshpotti area, the Rab press release said adding that Rozen Bahini used to extort money from residents of Demra, Jatrabari and Shyampur areas and the gang members were known for sending shrouds and bullets to those who refused to comply with their demand.
"Who was that masked man?"
"I don't know, but he left this shroud and a silver bullet."
"Uh oh."
At around 3:30 in the morning yesterday, the Rab went to Shaheed Moktar Hossain Road of Shyampur along with Sentu and Rezaul after the two had confessed that members of the Rozen Bahini used to gather in the area before committing a crime, the Rab statement said.
This would be your standard moonlight drive to the lair of the cadre. It won't end well, at least for our two wayward youths. Trust me.
Soon after the Rab reached the area, they came under heavy fire from criminals hiding around, the statement claimed adding that the crime busters then returned fire, ensuing a 30-minute-long gunfight when Sentu and Rezaul were apparently shot and killed while fleeing their custody.
See? Told ya
After the gunfight was over, members of the Rab, police and locals searched the area and found Sentu and Rezaul's dead bodies along with seven bullets and three firearms -- a revolver and two pipe guns.
Funny how the rest of the gang always escapes without leaving a trace
Two Rab members -- Sub-inspector Mobarak Ali and Nayek Siddiqur Rahman -- sustained injuries during the operation, the Rab claimed in the press release.
"Now listen, you've had that safe lifting briefing a dozen times. Lift the stiff with your legs, not with your back!"