'Shootouts' can't deter Barisal Colony peddlers

Two alleged drug dealers were killed in a "shootout" with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-7) at Chittagong's Barisal Colony last Thursday (May 17), but business has not remained suspended even for a day.

Police arrested three drug peddlers from the area on Sunday (May 20) in possession of a foreign-made pistol, a magazine loaded with four rounds of bullet, three machetes and 623 yaba pills, just two day after the gunfight.

Locals and police sources said fearing "shootout", the listed drug traders of the area have gone into hiding, and awaiting a suitable time to return. However, their junior accomplices have continued selling drugs.

Detectives also seized around 500 bottles of Phensedyl from Bastuhara Colony, a part of Barisal Colony, in the early hours of yesterday.

Police, Chittagong District Administration and Bangladesh Railway (BR) in a joint drive yesterday also demolished around 30 shanties, locally called "gira", that were installed for trading and consuming drugs.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) (south) Shah Md Abdur Rauf said, “The listed drug dealers and their associates have gone into hiding, after launch of the nationwide drug crackdown.”

“Police are alert in the area and no one will be spared in this connection,” he said.

“The drug syndicates are determined to keep hold of their position in the colony area, and are now carrying firearms in anticipation of a police raid and attack from opponent groups,” ADC Rauf told The Daily Star.

According to BR sources, there are 230 different quarters in the Barisal colony. But along with the quarters, around a thousand shanties have been illegally made by a section of influential people which thrives on the drug trading.

SHIFTING CONTROL BETWEEN TWO GANGS

According to investigators, after law enforcers launch a drive in the area, leaders of the controlling gang go into hiding, and their rival gang takes over the business. The gang in hiding then waits for the next drive when their opponents will be driven out, so they can regain control of the business. This cyclic changing of hands has been going on for 28 years, but the drug business is going uninterrupted here for the last 28 years, they said.

Law enforcement agencies were attacked on many occasions during their drives, while drug dealers were also killed in internal clash over power and territory.