Alleged drug trader killed, another injured in alleged police gunfights

An alleged drug trader killed and another injured in alleged gunfights with police in Chandmari and Narail and Charghat of Rajshahi respectively early Saturday, according to UNB.

With the latest death, at least 124 people were killed in what the law enforcement call gunfights with its members while 37 bodies of alleged drug traders were recovered after alleged gun battles between rival groups, as claimed by the law enforcement, during the countrywide anti-narcotic drives since 15 May.

According to the claim of the law enforcers, the standard story line of the incidents is: the gunfights ensued after the accomplices of the victims whom the law enforcement calls drug peddlers opened fire on them when they were conducting a drive along with the victims to recover arms and drugs.  

Prothom Alo, however, couldn’t verify the law enforcers’ claim independently. 

UNB reports: A suspected drug trader was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Chandmari of Narail early Saturday. The deceased could not be identified yet.

Police said they, on information, conducted the drive in the area around 3:00am.

Sensing presence of the police, the drug traders opened fire on the law enforcers, forcing them to fire back in self-defence, triggering the gunfight, according to the law enforcers’ claim.

After the gunfight, police recovered the bullet-hit body from the spot.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident a suspected drug trader sustained bullet injuries in a reported gunfight with detectives at Yusufpur in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi early Saturday.

The injured drug trader is Abdul Malek, 35, son of Lal Chand, a resident of Muktarpur village of the upazila.

Detective Branch of Police officer-in-charge Ataur Rahman said a team of DB police challenged a gang of drug traders while they were going to Yusufpur around 2:30am.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the drug traders attacked them, triggering a gunfight, leaving assistant sub-inspector Imran Hossain and constable Emdad Hossain injured, he said.

Late, they rescued bullet-hit Malek from the spot while other drug traders fled away.

The injured was admitted at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital.