Two killed in 'gunfight' after arrest

A Prothom Alo Illustration
A Prothom Alo Illustration

Two men were shot dead hours after they had been arrested in what police called a gunfight with them in Teknaf of Cox's Bazar early Tuesday.

The deceased were identified as Abdul Amin, 37, son of Oli Khan from Baharchhora union's Uttar Shilkhali village, and Md Helal Uddin, 21, son of Noor Mohammad from Sadar union's Moulabhipara village.

Police claimed that both Abdul Amin and Helal Uddin were wanted in several cases including that of murder. They were on the run for a long time, they added.

Officer-in-charge of Teknaf model police station, Pradip Kumar Das, told Prothom Alo that Abdul Amin and Helal Uddin were arrested from Baharchhora union's Shilkhali area around 8:00pm on Monday.

After primary interrogation, police took them to the foot of Shapmara Hill around 3:00am in a bid to recover arms and yaba pills, he added.

Yaba is a methamphetamine-based stimulant that translates in Thai as 'crazy medicine' which has become popular in Bangladesh.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the associates of Abdul Amin and Helal Uddin opened fire on police, forcing them to retaliate, according to the OC.

They were caught in the line of fire during the gunfight and suffered bullet wounds while his associates managed to flee the scene, according to the police version.

Bullet-hit Abdul Amin and Helal Uddin were taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex first and later shifted to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital where physicians declared them dead, OC Pradip Kumar Das also said.

The OC also claimed that two police officers -- sub-inspectors Sajeeb Dey and Saif Uddin -- and constable Sekandar Hossain were injured during the gunbattle.

Police claimed to have recovered 5,000 pieces of yaba pills, two locally-made guns, seven cartridges and two sharp weapons from the spot.

Since 4 May 2018, a total 169 people were killed in anti-narcotic raids and gunfights in Cox's Bazar district.