2 more men killed in alleged gunfights

Two men were killed in separate incidents of what police called gunfights with them in Rajshahi and Chandpur districts early Thursday.

One of the deceased is Manik, 30, son of a certain Shahab Uddin of Natun Para in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi while the other person, killed in Shahrasti upazila of Chandpur, could not be identified immediately, reports UNB.

Police claimed both the deceased are suspected drug traders.

In Rajshahi, Manik was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Muktarpur village of Charghat upazila.

Being tipped off that a group of drug traders were gathering in the area, a team of police conducted a drive around 2:45am, said Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Charghat police station.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcement, the drug suspects opened fire on police, forcing them to fire back, he said.

At one stage, Manik was caught in the line of fire and sustained bullet injuries. Later, he was taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead, OC Nazrul said.

Three policemen were injured in the incident. Manik was wanted in 13 cases, said police.

One pistol, one bullet and 50 bottles of phensedyl were recovered from the spot, the OC added.

In Chandpur, an unidentified man, believed to be a drug trader and aged about 30, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Shahrasti upazila.

Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Shahrasti Model police station, said tipped off a team of police conducted a drive in the area around 3:15am.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers they opened fire on them, prompting police to take action in self-defence, he said.

Later, the body the unidentified drug trader was recovered from the spot, OC Mizanur said.

Beside, one pipegun, six bullets and 83 pieces of yaba tablets were recovered from the spot, he added.

The law enforcement’s versions of the events, however, could not be verified independently as no versions of the incidents were available immediately either from any witness or from the victims’ families.