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Arrested Khulna top criminal Litu dies in 'gunfight'

Staff Correspondent, Khulna
Dreaded criminal Asaduzzaman Litu, a chargesheeted accused in journalist Shamsur Rahman murder case, was killed in a 'gunfight' with Detective Branch (DB) of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) and district police at about 3:30am yesterday in Sonadanga thana of the city.
Litu,. 42, was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) with injuries in his head and back, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
His body was handed over to his family after autopsy at the KMCH morgue yesterday afternoon in presence of afirst class magistrate.
KMP Deputy Commissioner Akbar Ali said DB personnel came under armed attack by Lira's cadres when he was taken to Sonadanga bypass road for recovery of illegal arms from his possession. DB men fired 81 shots and the cadres fired indiscriminately injuring constables Shyamal, Mayeedul, Kauser and Chand Mia. They have been admitted to police hospital with bulletinjuries.
According to the officer-in-charge of Sonadanga Police Station, Lira's accomplices fled leaving two foreign-made guns, three pipeguns and 17 live cartridges. None of them could be nabbed as the area plunged into darkness due to power supply disruption.
Earlier, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) had arrested Idtu, former ward commissioner of Khulna City Corporation (KCC), in the early hours of Sunday from Noapara under Abhoynagar upazila of Jessore.
After questioning him at its Khalishpur headquarters, the Rabhanded him over to the DB late Sunday nigh t wi th grave injuries an d his hands broken, one of his brothers alleged.
Lira's wifeSabinaZam an Shampa, also KPC ward commissioner, alleged her husband was killed in police custody. Although wounded, he was alive \\iren the Rab handed him over to the DB, she said. "My husband had made up his mind to surrender to court by Thursday in journalist Shamsur Rahman murder case."
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Two cases have been recorded with Sonadanga Police Station with a subinspector as complainant, naming Litu as accused in armed attack on police.
Huge contingents of security forces have been deployed at all key points in the city fearing violence following his death.
Litu's father Shaikh Abul Khair, a leader of Khulna Muslim League, was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants in 1970 and his uncle Shaikh Abul Kashem, president of Khulna City Unit of Jatiya Party (Ershad), was shot dead in 1995.
CRIME RECORD
Litu was wanted in four murders, nine attempt to murder, three abduction for ransom, four rioting and one kidnaping of another's housewife cases recorded with different price stations of Khulna city and district. Of these, one is under investigation, three are under trial, two have been chargesheeted while 15 other cases were withdrawn by complainants under political influence and threat, said a reliable source of city special
branch of KMP-quoting official records.
He had nine sources for earning illegal money. These sources were illegal occupation of shrimp enclosures, tender bungling, tole collection at arms point, extortion, arms trade, drug traffic king, smuggling of tiger and deer skins, plundering of timber from the Sundarbans and landgrabing.
According to highly placed sources of Intelligence agencies, Litu was in possession of huge arms which include one AK-56 and two Ak-47 rifles, three SMGs, three 303 rifles, eight saur-off rifles, two Pakistan-made guns, two England-made double barrel guns, eleven saur-off guns, four 32 bora webley scott revolvers, one six shooter gun, one eight mm rifle and 12 pistols. Besides, he was in possession of some arms of different kinds which notorious terrorist Ershad Shikder deposited to him before arrest on Aguust 11, 1999.
But police did never intend to recover any of his huge illegal arms, sources said.