3 killed in alleged gunfights in three districts

A Prothom Alo Illustration
A Prothom Alo Illustration

Three men were killed in what the law enforcement agencies called gunfights with them in Cumilla, Gazipur and Chattogram early Thursday, reports news agency UNB.

In Cumilla, police’s Detective Branch (DB) said the gunfight took place in Gumti Beribadh area of the Sadar upazila.

The deceased was identified as Russel, son of a certain Haru Mia of the upazila. Police said the deceased was wanted in 10 criminal cases.

Acting on a tip-off that a number of drug dealers had gathered there, a DB team raided the area around 1:30am.

The drug dealers opened fire when the DB team reached there, said Mainuddin, officer-in-charge of DB police. Russel sustained a bullet injury during the gunfight.

He was arrested after the gunfight and taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital where physicians declared him dead, the DB OC added.

The DB police claimed to have recovered a pipe-gun, a sharp weapon and 5,000 yaba pills from the spot.

In Gazipur, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) claimed an arms dealer Sujon Mia, son of a certain Chand Mia of Tongi area, was killed in a gunfight with them.

RAB-1 said one of its teams raided Salna area of the city around 1:45am after being tipped-off that firearms were being sold there illegally.

Members of the elite force came under fire as soon as they reached the spot. In the ensuing gunfight, Sujon sustained bullet injuries but others managed to flee, RAB-1 said.

The injured was taken to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Two locally-made guns, nine cartridges and 1,200 yaba tablets were recovered from the spot, RAB claimed.

Sujon was wanted in 13 criminal cases, said RAB-1.

In Chattogram, a gunfight took place when a RAB patrol team was reportedly attacked around 4:00am in Kothbaria, Bhujpur.

RAB-7 assistant director Mashqur Rahman said a body bearing gunshot wounds, an AK-22 rifle and 63 rounds of bullet were recovered from the spot after the gunfight.

RAB said it could not ascertain the identity of the deceased immediately. It sent the body to a local hospital for autopsy.

According to the human rights body, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), at least 421 people were killed in alleged gunfights, crossfires or shootouts with the law enforcement agencies, including police, RAB and BGB in 2018.

In the first six months of 2019, the number of such killing was at least 200, the rights body said on its website.