‘Drug dealer’ killed in a ‘gunfight’

An alleged drug peddler was killed in a “gunfight” with Rapid Action Battalion in Khulna’s Dumuria upazila yesterday.

The dead was identified as Bikash Kumar Dey, 38.

Samir Sarkar, superintendent of police and assistant director of Rab-6, told The Daily Star that at least 13 drug, extortion, rape and murder related cases were filed against Bikash.

After a tip-off about drug peddlers gathered at Dhanibunia village, a team of Rab conducted a drive there around 12:30am, he said.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire, forcing Rab officials to retaliate, he said, adding that at one stage, the criminals managed to flee the scene, leaving behind Bikash with bullet wounds.

He was taken to Dumuria Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead. Three Rab members were also injured during the incident, he added.

Rab claims to have recovered a foreign pistol, one shooter gun, one magazine of bullets, three bullets, 55 bottles of phensidyl and 207 yaba pills from the spot.

A case is being filed at Dumuria Police Station in connection to the incident.