Man killed in ‘gunfight' with police

A suspected drug trader was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Lengurbil Mathchara in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar Wednesday midnight.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Malek, 36, from Pallanpara in Teknaf upazila.

Tipped off, a team of police conducted a drive in the area around 11:45pm for recovering yaba, said Pradeep Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf model police station.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire on police, forcing them to fire back in self-defense.

At one stage, police recovered the bullet-hit body of Malek.

Three policemen were injured in the gunfight.

Police recovered two LGs, 13 bullets, 21 bullet shells and 5,000 yaba pills 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 the first four months of 2019, the number of such killing was at least 115, the rights body said on its website.