A youth was shot dead and two others were injured in an attack by armed assailants in Rupsha upazila of Khulna on Thursday night.
The deceased was identified as Sabbir, son of Fazlul Haque of Sheikhpara area in the city. The Injured was Saddam Hossain, son of Nur Islam from Sonar Bangla road under Sonadanga Police Station, while the detailed of another injured Miraj – locally known as ‘Kaua Miraj’ – could not be known immediately.
According to the locals and police, the incident occurred at the residence of a man named Sohag, who is identified as drug dealer in the city, at around 9pm at the Popular area of Rajapur village.
Locals reported hearing gunshots and later found a body inside the house and informed the law enforcers.
One of the injured, Saddam, was admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition and later transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment while Miraj reportedly fled from the hospital after initial treatment.
Police said all three victims are associates of ‘Grenade Babu’, a notorious crime figure in Khulna region. Multiple criminal cases are pending against them, according to police sources.
Mahfuzur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Rupsha Police Station, confirmed that the victims were staying at Sohag’s house when five to seven armed attackers stormed there.
“Sabbir was shot in the head, with the bullet exiting through one of his eyes. Saddam was also shot in the back of the head,” said Rahman.
Police recovered six spent bullet casings, four live rounds, Yaba tablets, and an object resembling a grenade from the crime scene. The body of Sabbir was sent to Khulna Medical College Hospital for autopsy, the official said.
Md Anisuzzaman, additional superintendent of Police (Crime) for Khulna district, stated that Sabbir was a prime suspect in the murder of another local criminal named ‘Kala Roni’, who was shot dead in Rupsha last month. “Both the attackers and victims are believed to be involved in organized criminal activity. Drives are underway to arrest those responsible,” he said.
Police are continuing their investigation, he added.