Robbers open fire on Gazaria police camp; over 100 rounds exchanged in shootout
Members of a robber gang, who operate on rivers, launched an armed attack on a newly established temporary police camp in Jamalpur village of Gazaria upazila in Munshiganj yesterday, firing over a hundred rounds at police.
Police returned fire in self-defence, forcing the river-based robbers to flee, said Gazaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Anwar Alam Azad. The incident occurred shortly after 5pm near the Meghna River, adjacent to the police camp, he added.
"Under Pias's leadership, five to six trawlers carrying at least 30–35 robbers opened fire on the camp. They also detonated four to five crude bombs. We returned fire, firing approximately 19 rounds. No police officers were injured, but I cannot confirm if any pirates were hit," said OC Azad.
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Munshiganj Police Superintendent Mohammad Shamsul Alam added, "The robbers probably came to extort money from riverside residents. The police presence prevented them from acting. There was an exchange of fire, but no officers were harmed. We will take a stricter stance against them in the future."
Some media reports cite police sources claiming that some of the weapons used by the robbers had been looted earlier from a police station.
Eyewitnesses said that around 5pm, members of the Noyon–Pias gang began manoeuvres near the camp with five to six engine-powered trawlers. Arriving close to the camp, they first detonated four to five hand grenades and then opened fire on the police.
They said the police returned fire in self-defence. Around 100 rounds were fired by the pirates and approximately 20 rounds by the police. The firefight lasted over half an hour.
Locals said Gazaria's remote char areas of Guagachia Union is home to several active robber gangs. In recent months, conflicts among them, including the Noyon-Pias and Lalu factions, have led to several deaths over issues such as illegal sand mining, boat extortion, and territorial disputes.
To curb their activities, authorities set up a temporary police camp in Jamalpur on 22 August. SP Shamsul told the media that the pirates have since been frustrated, as the camp has hampered their operations.
