Ten robbers, one villager killed in gunfight

COX'S BAZAR, Apr 25 (UNB): Ten robbers and one villager were killed and over 50 people, including six policemen, injured in mob beating and gunfight between police and robbers at Jalia Palong village in Ramu Upazila early Monday. The deceased villager was identified as Jasim Uddin (35), son of Haji Abul Khair of Jalia Palong village. The identity of the 10 dacoits could not be known immediately. Police and witnesses said a gang of 40 to 50 armed robbers committed robbery in some houses in a village around 3:30am. They looted gold ornaments, cash and other valuables worth Tk 2.0 million from five houses and decamped with booties at dead of night. Later, the bandits blocked the nearby Inani Road for committing highway robbery. Seeing the presence of the armed bandits villagers informed the police. Several teams from Ramu, Ukhia and Cox's Bazar police stations arrived at the village. Police along with the villagers chased the dacoits who opened fire on the law enforcers forcing them to retaliate triggering a gun battle that left four robbers and a villager dead on the spot and 50 others, including six cops, injured. The gun battle took place around 5.0am. Six more robbers, badly beaten by mobs, died later on. Police could rescue and arrest only one robber from the wrath of angry mobs. The arrestee was identified as Quashem, son of Nurul Alam of Kalipur of Banskhali of Chittagong district, He was admitted to Cox's Bazar Hospital in a serious condition. Police recovered the bodies and sent those to Cox's Bazar and Ukhia hospitals. The injured were taken to Cox's Bazar and Ukhia and other hospitals and clinics.