Two Young Men Shot in Khulna Within 16 Hours, Painter Injured in Knife Attack

Attackers shot two young men in Khulna within just 16 hours. A painter was also injured in a knife attack by snatchers. The incidents took place in the city and nearby areas from Monday night (26 October) to Tuesday morning (27 October). Both gunshot victims are reported to be in critical condition.

At around 11:10 am on Tuesday, attackers shot a young man named Salman (23) on Road 17 of the Nirala area of Khulna city and snatched his bag. Salman is an employee of a cigarette company and the son of Jahangir, a resident of Road 16.

According to local residents, three youths arriving on a motorcycle opened fire on Salman while he was working in front of the cigarette company office, then fled with a bag he was carrying. The attack is believed to have been carried out on the assumption that the bag contained money. Local people later rescued Salman and took him to Khulna Medical College Hospital. Police visited the scene after receiving the news.

Khulna Sadar Police Station officer-in-charge Md Lokman Hossain Ripon said the cause of the incident has not yet been confirmed. CCTV footage from the surrounding area is being collected and an investigation is under way.

Earlier, at around 12:30 am on Monday night, Sohel Sheikh (36) was shot in front of Baro Karia Government Primary School in Batiaghata upazila of Khulna. He is the son of Gani Sheikh of the Baro Karia area. Sohel is a former president of Amirpur Union Chhatra Dal and currently a Jubo Dal worker.

Police and local sources said Sohel was sitting on a motorcycle when attackers arriving on two motorcycles opened fire on him, hitting his right hand and the right side of his abdomen. The attackers fled immediately. Local people rescued him and took him to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where, after admission to surgery wards 9 and 10, he was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

Batiaghata Police Station OC Mehedi Hasan said one round of pistol bullet casing was recovered from the scene, and a drive is under way to identify and arrest those involved.

Meanwhile, at around 7 pm on Monday, a painter named Russel (32) came under attack by snatchers in an alley beside Khademul Islam Madrasa in the Purba Baniakhamar area of Khulna city. Six to seven unidentified men blocked his path, stabbed his left hand with a sharp knife, and fled with 600 taka in cash and a Vivo V20 Android mobile phone.

Russel lives in the Putimari Railbridge area under Lobonchora Police Station and his father's name is Abul Kalam Sheikh. Local people rescued him in an injured state and took him to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where he was admitted to surgery wards 9 and 10 at around 8:30 pm. He is currently under treatment there.

Police and local sources say the incidents are initially believed to have stemmed from snatching and previous enmity.

Advocate Babul Hawladar, member secretary of Khulna Nagorik Samaj, expressed concern over the incidents. He said Khulna cannot go on like this, the city has lost its livability, and ordinary people are fed up with drugs, extortion, snatching and mugging. He said the government must take tough steps to suppress crime.