4 more killed in alleged gunfights in 3 dists

Prothom Alo Illustration
Prothom Alo Illustration

Four people were killed in alleged gunfights with law enforcement agencies in Khulna, Rajshahi and Jashore districts early Wednesday.

Among the deceased, two were killed in Jashore in what police called shoot-out between suspected rival robber groups while the other two were killed in reported gun battles with RAB in Khulna and Rajshahi, reports UNB.

Two of the deceased are drug suspects Emran alias Rocky, 22, son of a top drug trader Sheikh Mizanur Rahman alias Hatkata Mizan from Maheshwarpur in Daulatpur upazila of Khulna and Sazzad Hossain, son of one Saim Uddin of Haripur Banpara village in Poba of Rajshahi.

With the latest deaths, at least 148 people were killed in reported gunfights with members of law enforcement agencies while 37 bodies of suspected drug traders were recovered after alleged gun battles between rival groups during the countrywide anti-narcotic drives since 15 May.

In Jashore, police recovered bullet-hit bodies of two suspected robbers on Jashore-Manirampur road in Kanaitala of sadar upazila around 2:55am.

Acting on secret information that two gangs of robbers were exchanging gunfire, a team of police went in the area, recovered the bodies and sent those to Jashore General Hospital, Kotwali police station officer-in-charge Apurba Hasan said.

The law enforcement also recovered three sharp weapons and rope from the spot, he added.

In Khulna, Emran alias Rocky was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Maheshwarpur of Daulatpur upazila.

Tipped off, a team of RAB-6 gave a signal to three people riding a motorcycle to stop in the area around 3:00am, said ASP Bazlur Rashid of RAB-6.

The motorcyclists did not stop, rather opened fire aiming the RAB men, forcing them to fire back in self-defence, he said.

After a brief gun battle, RAB men recovered the body of Emran along with a revolver, three bullets and 308 pieces of yaba tablets from the spot, Bazlur Rashid said.

Emran was wanted in seven cases, the RAB official said.

In Rajshahi, Sazzad Hossain was killed in an alleged gunfight with RAB in Kasba of Poba upazila early Wednesday.

Tipped off, a team of RAB-5 conducted a drive in the area around 1:00am. Sensing the presence of the force, the drug suspects opened fire on them, which prompted the RAB members to swing into action, RAB-5 deputy commanding officer major AM Ashraful Islam said.

After a brief gunfight, RAB members recovered the body of Sazzad and sent it to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital morgue, he added.

Sazzad was wanted in 7/8 cases, major AM Ashraful Islam said.
Prothom Alo, however, could not verify the law enforcement’s versions of the incidents independently as no versions of the incidents were available immediately either from any witnesses or from any member of the victims' families.