Three killed in separate ‘gunfights’

Three people were killed in what the law enforcers called gunfights in the capital's Mohammadpur area, in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar and in Gangni upazila of Meherpur early Thursday, reports UNB.

Nabi Hossain, 48, an alleged drug trader from Teknaf, was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in city's Mohammadpur area early Thursday.

Tipped off that a consignment of yaba is being smuggled into the city, a team of RAB-2 conducted a drive in Dhaka Uddyan area and signaled to an auto-rickshaw for halting around 5:45am, said superintendent of police Mahiuddin Farooque of RAB-2.

Later, the criminals opened fire on the elite force members, forcing them to retaliate, leaving Nadi with bullet injuries.

He was later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

The RAB members also recovered 10,000 yaba pills, a pistol, two bullets and his NID card from the spot.

In Cox's Bazar, another suspected drug trader was killed in a 'gunfight' with police at Khoaikong Satgariapara in Teknaf upazila early Thursday.

The deceased is identified as Abul Kashem, 32, of the area.

Police arrested Abul Kashem on Wednesday night and conducted a drive along with him to recover arms in the area around 3:00am, said Dipak Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Model police station.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the associates of Abul Kashem opened fire on them and tried to snatch him away.

The police then fire gunshots, triggering a 'gunfight' that left Abul Kashem dead on the spot.

As many as 4,300 yaba, two pistols and two round bullets were recovered from the spot.

In Meherpur, police recovered the bullet-hit body of a 'drug trader' from Harbhanga village in Gangni upazila around 2:20am.

The deceased is Fazlur Rahman alias Faju, 45, son of Shamsul Ialm of Kazipur village in the upazila.

Being informed that two gangs of drug traders were exchanging bullets at the village following internal feud, a team of police went to the spot and recovered the bullet-hit body of Faju, said Harendranath Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Gangni police station.

A one-shutter gun and one kg of hemp were recovered from the spot.

According to the human rights organisation, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), at least 421 people were killed in alleged gunfights, crossfires or shootouts with the law enforcement agencies in 2018.
In January and February of 2019, the number of such killing was at least 50, the rights body said on its website.