Man who shot baby in womb, dies in \\\'crossfire\\\'

One of the key accused in last month's shooting in Magura that left an expecting woman and the baby in her womb critically injured, was killed in a 'gun battle' with police on Tuesday. The firing during the ruling party's infighting at Daopara on July 23 had also left a local Awami League leader killed and another with bullet injuries. The man died in Tuesday's 'gunfight' with police at Daopara in Magura town, was identified as Mehedi Hasan Ajibor alias Ajibor Sheikh, the second accused in the case. Ajibor Sheikh was also a former member of the executive committee of the local unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL). It was alleged that Ajibor was the one who opened fire during AL's July 23 turf war in the district town that left local AL leader Abdul Momin Bhuiyan dead and three others, including the baby girl in the womb and her mother, injured. Police did not confirm key accused Ajibor's arrest on Monday when words were out that he was caught. Ajibor has been on the run since the July 23 clash among local AL, BCL and Jubo League men over establishing dominance in the area. The law enforcers in the early hours of Tuesday said Ajibor was killed 'in a shootout' around 1am . Magura’s Superintendent of Police Ehsan Ullah told reporters several police teams went to Daopara on information that Ajibor and a gang of miscreants were spotted near Doarpara Orphanage. But the miscreants tried to flee, he claimed. They started shooting sensing police presence, prompting the law-keepers to return fire, he further said. “Ajibor’s body was found at the scene after the gunfight ended,” he further claimed. SP Ehsan Ullah said the other members of the criminal group had fled, but two firearms were recovered from the spot. Local unit BCL's former executive body member Ajibor Sheikh was involved with various criminal activities, police say.

Pregnant Najma Begum was shot during the fights between AL, BCl and Jubo League factions last month. The fight for control of the area pitted Najma's brother-in-law, local Awami Juba League activist Kamrul Bhuiyan's supporters against followers of former Juba League activists Mohammad Ali and Ajibor Sheikh. The factional fight left Kamrul's uncle Abdul Momin Bhuiyan dead and a neighbour injured. The bullet that hit Najma, who was 34 weeks into her pregnancy, also injured the baby inside her womb, triggering outcry and condemnation across Bangladesh. The baby girl who was born through surgery is currently out of danger and close to full recovery. Both Najma and the baby, later named 'Suraiya', were under the doctors’ observation at a Dhaka hospital last week, according to bdnews24.com.
- mbz