3 killed in RAB ‘gunfight’

Three people were killed in what the members of Rapid Action Batttalion (RAB) called gunfights in Chattogram and Chapainawabganj districts on Thursday night and early Friday.
In Chattogram, two persons were shot dead in a ‘gunfight’ with the elite force members during an anti-drug raid in Madarbari Barishal colony of Sadarghat police station on Thursday night.
ASP Mimtanur Rahman of RAB-7 said a team of the force conducted a special raid at the colony, which is popularly known as a drug den, around 11:30pm.
Sensing the presence of RAB members, the criminals opened fire, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate, leaving two people dead on the spot, he said.
In Chapainawabganj, an alleged drug peddler was killed in a 'gunfight' between his cohorts and RAB members at no 4-Beribadh ghat area of Padma river in Shibganj upazila early Friday.
The deceased could not be identified yet.
Squadron leader Syeed Abdullah Al Murad said a team of RAB-5 conducted a regular drive in the area to seize drugs.
Sensing the presence of the elite force members, the criminals opened fire on RAB members, prompting them to fire back that triggered the gunfight.
One of the criminals was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot while the others managed to flee, he said.
Five RAB members were injured during the gunfight, Murad added.
The law enforcement recovered 6.70 kgs of hemp, two pistols, five bullets and two magazines from the spot, the RAB officer said.
RAB's versions of the events were, however, could not be verified independently as no versions of the incidents were available immediately either from any witnesses or from any members of the victims’ families.