Terror leader killed in \\\'shootout\\\'

An alleged terrorist party leader was killed in a 'shootout' with cops in Shibchar upazila in Madaripur on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Kiron Bepari, 29, reportedly a leader of Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party, an outlawed outfit, and son of Abu Bepari of Goalanda upazila of Rajbari district. Officer-in-charge (OC) of Shibchar Police Station AKM Masud Khan said they had information that Kiron, on behalf of the extremist party, sent a letter along with a piece of shroud to a Canadian expatriate demanding Tk 5 lakh as toll from him at Pachchar village in the upazila on Thursday (February 13). A team of police conducted a drive at Pachchar on Tuesday noon and arrested Kiron and his two associates – Jamal and Shiblu, the OC claimed. Later, police along with Kiron started another drive in Nilkhir Baghmara area at about 1:15am on Wednesday to recover arms in his possession. Sensing police presence, associates of Kiron opened fire on the law enforcers who also hit back, triggering a shootout that left Kiron dead on the spot, he added, according to UNB.