'Shootout' claims one more life

A suspected drug trader was killed in a “gunfight” with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Sherpur on Tuesday night and an alleged drug dealer was injured in another “gunfight” in Mohammadpur of Dhaka early yesterday.

The man killed in Sherpur was identified as Al Amin alias Fakir, 28, son of Sahibor Rahman of Balaichar village in Sadar upazila.

With this latest death, 151 people whom the law enforcers claimed to have been drug dealers or peddlers, have been killed in ongoing anti-narcotics drive as of Tuesday. Most of the deaths are attributed to “gunfights” involving the law enforcers since May 15.

Razib Kumar Dey, company commander of Rab-14, told UNB that a team of the elite force conducted an anti-drug drive at Chunierchar in Sadar upazila on Tuesday night. The Rab members fired two gunshots during a “gunfight” with drug traders, said the Rab official.

Later in the morning they heard that a drug trader was killed the previous night, he added.

On information, police recovered the body from the spot yesterday morning, said Md Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sherpur Sadar police.

Meantime, suspected drug peddler Falu was injured in what the police claimed was a gunfight in Mohammadpur area of Dhaka yesterday.

With bullet injuries on his leg, Falu was admitted to the National Institute of Traumatology & Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor), said Inspector (Investigation) of Mohammadpur police Abul Kalam Azad.

Falu was arrested in Dhaka Udyan area of Mohammadpur. Following information given by him, a police team along with Falu conducted a raid in Bosila area to recover a stash of arms and drugs around 12:00am, Azad said.

Sensing the presence of police, his cohorts opened fire on them, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate, he added.

At one stage, Falu's aides retreated, leaving injured Falu behind, he said, claiming that four policemen also suffered minor injuries in the “gunfight”.

Falu is said to be accused in 14 cases related to narcotics and other crimes filed with different police stations of the capital. The police said they had recovered 305 yaba pills, 50 grams of heroin and 1kg of cannabis from his possession.