2 Rohingyas among 3 killed in ‘gunfight’

Three men including two Rohingyas were killed in what the law enforcement called gunfight with police at Baharchhara in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar early Thursday, UNB reports.

The deceased were named as Mohammad Jamil, 20, Asmat Ullah, 21, and Mohammad Rafique, 24, from Teknaf.

The criminals were wanted in several cases and were arrested on Wednesday, UNB quotes Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf model police station, as saying.

According to the police, a police team conducted a drive in the area with the detained criminals to recover firearms, but as soon as they reached Baharchhara, criminals opened fire, triggering a skirmish. The three criminals sustained gunshot wounds while trying to flee the scene.

Later, they were taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where the physicians declared them dead.

Three light guns, six bullets and eight bullet shells were reportedly recovered from the spot.

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 in 2018.

In the first eight months of 2019, the number of such killing was at least 264, the rights body said on its website.