5 killed in ‘gunfights’ in 3 days
Four alleged drug peddlers were killed in "gunfights" with police in Cox's Bazar and Sylhet from the beginning of Eid holidays to Monday.
In another incident, a drug dealer was killed in infighting in Jashore early Monday, police claimed.
In Cox's Bazar's Chakaria upazila, three suspected yaba dealers were killed in a "shootout" with police early Saturday.
They were Jahir Ahmed, 45, of Shantinagar area of the upazila, Mohammad Zafar, 35, of Kachuya village, and Md Hasan, 37, of Paikpara village of Chattogram's Patia upazila.
Four police personnel -- Officer-in-Charge of Chakaria Police Station Habibur Rahman, In-charge of Harbang Police outpost Aminul Islam, and constables Sajjad and Sabuj -- were injured during the "gunfight".
The injured took treatment at Chakaria Upazila Health Complex, said police officer Aminul.
The three were members of a gang which smuggled in yaba tablets, he said, adding that of them, Jahir stood accused in three narcotics cases.
Around 1:00am on Friday, police arrested two people with yaba pills from Baniachhara. During interrogation, they told police that some yaba dealers were distributing the pills in Boitoli area.
The officer said police conducted a drive in the area around 2:30am on Saturday. But sensing their presence, the criminals opened fire. Police retaliated, triggering the "gunfight".
After the "gun battle", police found the three bullet-hit bodies lying on the spot, he added.
Police also claimed to have recovered 44,000 yaba tablets, two firearms, and seven cartridges from the spot.
Another alleged drug dealer was killed in a "shootout" with police in Sylhet's Zakiganj upazila early Monday.
Abdul Manna alias Munna, 35, of Khadiman village, was accused in 12 cases, including seven drug-related cases.
The "gunfight" took place between 3:30am and 4:00am in Ajorgram village, said OC Meer Md Abu Naser of Zakiganj Police Station.
"Police arrested Munna in connection with a narcotics case on Sunday afternoon," he said, adding that during interrogation, Munna informed them that a large number of yaba pills was hidden in his home.
He said, "A police team, taking him in a police van, raided Ajorgram village where some criminals opened fire on them around 3:00am.
"Munna jumped off the police van and tried to run, but was shot by several bullets. Then we fired gunshots in self-defence," the OC said.
Munna was rushed to the local health complex where doctors declared him dead, the police official said.
He claimed that police recovered 800 yaba tablets, a locally-made firearm, five bullets, and six sharp weapons from the spot.
"Seven policemen were also hurt in the incident, but no one is critically injured," the OC added.
In another incident, a drug peddler was killed when two groups of criminals were exchanging bullets in Jashore's Keshabpur early Monday, claimed police.
Md Moniruzzaman, 30, of Dormutia village of the upazila, stood accused in 15 cases, including murder, filed with different police stations of the district.
Jasim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Keshabpur Police Station, said police went to Dormutia village on information that two groups of drug dealers were involved in a "gunfight".
Sensing the presence of police, the criminals fled. Police then found a body lying near a brick field in Dormutia village. The injured was taken to Keshabpur Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, the
OC said.
Moniruzzaman's cousin Aksad Ali said he heard gunshots in the morning, went to the brick field and found the body lying on the spot.
[Our correspondents from Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, and Jashore contributed to this report]
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