‘Anti-drugs drive’ continues, 10 more killed

Prothom Alo Illustration
Prothom Alo Illustration

Ten more suspected drug peddlers were killed in reported gunfights with members of police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) as the countrywide anti-drugs crackdown continues.

Of them, two each were killed in Cumilla and Dinajpur districts, and one each in Mymensingh, Joypurhat, Chandpur, Pabna, Kurigram and Thakurgaon districts.

Besides, police recovered a bullet-hit body of an alleged drug peddler from Barguna.

None of the incidents of alleged gunfights could, however, be verified independently.

According to UNB, a total of 81 people were killed in ‘gunfights’ across the country since 12 May.

In Cumilla, two suspected drug traders-Babul, son of a certain Malek, from Ashabri area and Almas, son of one Afaz Uddin, from Tetebhumi area, were killed in a reported gunfight with police in Bagra Ramchandapur area of Brahmanpara upazila around 2:00am.

Police said Babul was accused in 16 cases while Almas in eight.

The team recovered one pistol and 40-kg hemp from the spot, the law enforcement said.

Three policemen were said to have injured in the gunfight.

In Mymensingh, a suspected drug trader, Shahjahan Miah, 30, son of one Jasimuddin of Bongaon village in Ishwarganj upazila, and an accused in eight drugs cases, was killed in a reported gunfight with detective branch of police in Athabari around 1:30am.

Ishwarganj police station officer-in-charge Badrul Alam Khan said sub-inspector Mamun and assistant sub-inspector Mozaharul were also injured in the incident.

The DB team recovered 200 grams of heroin, five bullet shells and some a few local arms from the spot, he said.

In Joypurhat, suspected drug trader Rintu, son of one Abdul Jalil of Uttar Gopalpur village in Panchbibi upazila, was killed in an alleged gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Bhimpur village around 12:30am.

Additional superintendent of police and RAB-5 camp commander Shamim Hossain said the RAB team recovered a one-barrel pistol, several rounds of bullets and a sack of Phensedyl.

Two RAB members were reportedly injured in the gunfight.

In Chandpur, suspected drug trader Bablu Ahmed, 42, son of one late Sultan Ahmed of Bolora village, was killed in a so-called gunfight with police at Paragaon around 2:55am.

Bablu was an accused in five drugs cases, police said.

Police recovered 120 pieces of yaba pills from the spot.

In Pabna, listed drug trader Abdur Rahman, son of one late Aser Uddin Sheikh of Mahedrapur area in sadar upazila, was killed in an alleged gunfight with police around 2:00am.

Additional superintendent of police in Pabna Gautam Kumar Biswas said police recovered a locally-made shutter gun, three bullets, four bullet shells and 200 yaba tablets from the spot.

In Dinajpur, two suspected drug traders - Saddarul, son of one Majibur Rahman from Nandail village, and Abdus Salam, son of one Abdus Samad of Mohorarpur area of sadar upazila - were killed in different incidents of reported gunfights with police and RAB.

Commanding officer of CPC camp-1 of RAB-13 major Talukder Najmus Sakib said this.

Saddarul was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with a RAB team in Basudebpur area.

The RAB team recovered two bags of hemp, 95 bottles of Phensedyl, a foreign-made pistol and four rounds of bullets.

Two RAB members were reportedly injured in the incident.

Besides, an unidentified drug trader was killed in a reported gunfight with a team of police in Paschimpara in Dinajpur sadar upazila, said Kotwali police station officer-in-charge Redwanur Rahim.

Later, local people identified the alleged drug trader as one Abdus Salam.

Police recovered 200 bottles of Phensedyl, a sharp weapon, some crude bombs, one pistol and bullets.

In Thakurgaon, a suspected drug trader, Mobarak Hossain Kutti, 45, son of one late Safir Uddin of Chitchilarong village in sadar upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Paschim Begunbari union.

Mentioning that Kutti was an accused in 15 drug cases, Thakurgaon sadar police station officer-in-charge Abdul Latif Miah said that three policemen were injured in the gunfight.

Five crude bombs, a cartridge of a pistol and several local arms were recovered from the spot, he said.

In Kurigram, Ibrahim Ali, 34, son of a certain late Insaf Ali of Banshjani village of Bhurungamari upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with police, said Bhurungamari police station officer-in-charge Imtiaj Kabir.

Ibrahim was an accused in four drug cases, OC Imtiaj Kabir added.

In Barguna, police recovered a bullet-hit body of a suspected drug trader Sagir Khan from Jakirtobok area in sadar upazila around 5:00am.

Sadar police station officer-in-charge Masuduzzaman said that listed drug trader Sagir was killed in a gunfight between two groups of drug traders.

The law enforcement also recovered a pipe gun, five rounds of bullets and 100 yaba tablets from the spot.