Rohingya man killed in ‘police gunfight’

A Rohingya resident of the Ukhiya refugee camp, was killed in what law enforcers called a gunfight with police in Naikhangchhari upazila of Bandarban early Thursday.

According to police claims, the man was Shah Alam, 45, a drug trader.

Naikhangchhari police station officer-in-charge, Alamgir Hossain, said that they had arrested Shah Alam who was fugitive in three narcotic cases.

Police conducted a raid in South Ghundhum along with Shah Alam, he said adding that sensing their presence, a group of yaba peddlers opened fire on them, forcing the policemen to fire back in self-defence that triggered the gunfight.

At one stage, Shah Alam was caught in the line of fire. When he was taken to Naikhangchhari Upazila Health Complex, physicians declared him dead, according to police. A total of 40,000 yaba pills, guns and bullets were reportedly recovered from the spot.

Two policemen were injured slightly in the gunfight, the OC also said.