Alleged gunfights claim 3 more lives in 2 dists

Three people were killed in two different incidents of what law enforcement called gunfights in Satkhira and Mymensingh districts early Sunday.

The deceased are Delwar Hossain, 45, son of a certain Abdul Goni of Banshdaha in Satkhira sadar upazila, Abul Kalam Azad, son of one Abul Kashem of Keragacchi village in Kalaroa upazila and Murad Siddique, 33, son of one Shahjahan Akanda of Bagarjan village in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh.

Among the deceased, police claimed, Delwar Hossain and Abul Kalam Azad were drug traders while Murad Siddique was a robber, reports UNB.

With the latest deaths, at least 137 people were killed in alleged gunfights with members of law enforcement agencies while 37 bodies of suspected drug traders were recovered after reported gun battles between rival groups during the countrywide anti-narcotic drives since 15 May.

In satkhira, two suspected drug traders were killed in a reported gunfight with police in Banshdaha of the sadar upazila.

Police arrested Delwar and Kalam along with some hemp and phensedyl syrups from Banshdaha Bazar on Saturday and after interrogation, they came to know that a huge consignment of drugs would be brought to the country at night, said sadar police station officer-in-charge Maruf Ahmed.

Later, a team of police conducted a drive in Koyer Beel area around 2:00am, said the OC.

Sensing presence of the law enforcement, the criminals opened fire on them forcing the policemen to fire back in self-defence, he said.

After a brief gunfight, police recovered the bodies of Delwar and Kalam along with one firearm, one round of bullet and some drugs from the spot, OC Maruf said.

Five policemen were also injured in the incident, the OC claimed.

Both the deceased were members of inter-district drug trading racket and wanted in several cases, police said.

In Mymensingh, Murad Siddique was killed in an alleged gunfight with police in Bharadoba Uthura of Bhaluka upazila.

Deceased Murad was a robber and wanted in five criminal cases, police said.

Tipped off, a team of police conducted a drive near Hijack Bridge in the area around 2:15am, said Bhaluka police station officer-in-charge Firoz Talukdar.

Sensing their presence, the criminals opened fire on police forcing them to retaliate that triggered the gunfight, he said.

After the gunfight, police recovered the body of Murad and sent it to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, the OC said.

Two policemen were also injured during the gunfight, said police.

The law enforcement's versions of the incidents, however, could not be verified independently as no versions were available from any witnesses or the deceased's families.