7 hurt in human smugglers-cops gunfight

Jessore: Seven people, including four policemen, were injured in a gunfight between police and human smugglers in Churamonkati area of Sadar upazila in Jessore on Thursday night.
The injured policemen are Kotwali Model Police officer-in-charge Shikder Akkas Ali, sub-inspector Shamim, and constables Zahid and Abdur Rahim.
The injured human smugglers are Ashraful of Hatjadabpur village, Rahmat Ali of Debbariya village, and Jahirul Islam of Uttar Hatjadabpur village in Maheshkhali upazila of Jhenidah district.
Tipped off that a group of human smugglers abducted truck driver Abdul Aziz from Mobarakpur village in Jhikargachha upazila at about 8:30pm, a team of police chased the gang and halted their car at Churamonkati Bazar at about 11:30pm, said Mir Shafin Mahmud, Jessore assistant superintendent of police.
Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the human smugglers opened fire on them, prompting the police personnel to fire back that triggered a gunfight.
Seven people, including the four cops, sustained bullet injuries in the gun battle, the ASP said.
Meanwhile, police arrested the three injured human smugglers, rescued the victim and seized the private car and one shooter gun loaded with two bullets.
Later, the injured policemen were rushed to Jessore Police Lines Hospital and the arrested human traffickers sent to Jessore Medical College Hospital.
Two cases were filed in this connection.