Accused child rapist killed in Cox’s Bazar ‘gunfight’

An accused of a child rape case was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Kurushkul area of Sadar upazila in Cox’s Bazar early Tuesday.

The deceased was identified as Selim, 22, son of Mohammad Younus.

He was accused in several cases including a rape case filed in connection with a violating 3-year-old girl in the upazila on August 23.

Major Ruhul Amin, commanding officer of Rab-7, said that a team of Rab arrested Selim from Natun Fishery Ghat area adjacent to airport on Monday evening.

Later, the team conducted a drive along with Selim in Kurushkul area around 2:00 am to arrest his associates and recover arms.

When the team reached the spot, his associates opened fire on the elite force, prompting them to retaliate that triggered a gun fight.

At one stage, Selim was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot while his associates managed to flee the scene.

The law enforcers recovered a foreign pistol and a one-shooter gun.