Outlawed party man killed in Kushtia \\\'gunfight\\\'

An outlawed party leader was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with police in Bhanga Bottoil under Mirpur upazila in Kushtia district on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Palash Malitha, 28, regional leader of the Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP, ML-Lal Pataka), and son of Abul Malitha of Khamarpara village in the upazila. Kazi Jalal Uddin, officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station, said being informed that a gang of outlawed party men were taking preparation to commit robbery on the Kushtia-Meherpur road by placing logs in Bhanga Bottoil area, a team of police conducted a drive in the area around 1:30am. Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, Palash along with his associates opened fire on police, prompting the law enforcers to fire back, triggering a ‘gun battle’. At one stage, Palash was caught in the line of fire and injured while his associates managed to flee. Later police rescued Palash and rushed him to a local hospital where the doctor declared him dead. Police recovered a shutter gun and three rounds of bullet from the spot, according to UNB.