1 dies in Barguna \\\'gun battle\\\'

A man has been killed in a ‘shootout’ between a gang of pirates and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel in the Sundarbans in Patharghata upazila of Barguna district on Monday. RAB-8 identified the deceased as Md Jamal, 35. A RAB-8 official claimed that he was leading a gang of robbers in the area. According to RAB-8 Alorkol Camp Deputy Commander Major Adnan Kabir, the shootout occurred early in the morning on Monday at the Sundarban’s Sharankhola Range. A total of 14 firearms, including a pistol and rifles, 100 rounds of ammunitions and eight sharp weapons were recovered from the spot, he said. RAB raided the area on a tip-off around 5am. “Sensing RAB’s presence the bandits opened fire provoking a retaliation. The shootings lasted for half an hour after which the robbers fled. One was found dead at the spot, whom the locals later identified as the chief of the robbers’ gang ‘Jamal Bahini’,” Major Kabir told bdnews24.com.