Ultfa-left leader killed in RAB ‘encounter’

An ultra-left outfit leader was killed in an ‘encounter’ with the Rapid Action Battalion at Baghmara in Rajshahi early Wednesday.

Wednesday’s incident took to 210 the total number of people killed in incidents such as ‘crossfire’, ‘encounter’ or ‘gunfight’ after January 6, 2009 when the Awami League-led government assumed office.

The Awami League in its election manifesto pledged ‘an end to such extrajudicial killing.’

Fifty-five people have so far been killed since the High Court on December 14, 2009 asked the authorities not to kill any more people in ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter’ until it hears a rule it issued suo moto on the government in connection with extrajudicial killings.

The deceased, Elahi Bakhs Mithu, 34, was a regional commander of the Purba Banglar Communist Party (ML-Red Flag), the battalion said.

The battalion said one of its teams raided a house at Goalkandi in the upazila about 3:00am where Elahi and his associates were holding a meeting.

As the law enforcers approached, the operatives fired into the battalion team, which fired back, triggering a ‘gunfight.’

The law enforcers found Elahi lying dead one the ground when his associates got away at one point during the gunfight, the battalion said.

The battalion also seized foreign-made pistol, four bullets and three sharp weapons from the place.