Alleged gunfights kill 3 in 2 districts

Three suspected drug traders were killed in reported gunfights with law enforcement agency men in Chattogram and Cumilla districts early Friday, reports UNB.

Among the deceased, one was identified as Khorshed Alam alias Kana Khorshed, 48, son of Siddiqur Rahman of Debidwar upazila in Cumilla while the two killed in Chattogram were not identified immediately, said law enforcement.

In Chattogram, two men were killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Motijharna of Khulshi area.

Tipped off, a team of RAB-7 conducted a drive in the area and challenged a microbus around 1:30am, said assistant superintendent of Chattogram police Mimtanur Rahman of RAB-7.

When the law enforcement members cordoned off the microbus, those who were inside opened fire on them forcing the RAB men to fire back in self-defence, he said.

After a brief gunfight, the RAB members recovered the bodies of two men, he added.

Two RAB members were slightly injured in the incident.

The force recovered 85 kilograms of hemp, one firearm and five shells of bullets from the spot, Mimtanur Rahman added.

In Cumilla, Khorshed Alam was killed in a reported gunfight with police on Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Daudkandi upazila around 1:30am.

Khorshed was an enlisted drug trader, claims police.

Acting on information that a huge consignment of drugs in a private car is entering the district, a team of police conducted a drive near Hasanpur Government College, said Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Daudkandi police station.

When police gave a signal to the private car, Khorshed and his associates opened fire on the law enforcement, prompting them to take action.

Later, Khorshed's body was recovered from the spot. Police also recovered 80 kilograms of hemp and firearms from the spot, he said.

Khorshed was wanted in 13 criminal cases, including that of drugs, the OC said.

The law enforcement’s versions of the incidents were, however, not verified independently as no versions of those were available immediately either from any witnesses or from members of the victims’ families.

With the latest deaths, at least 144 people were killed in reported 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.