‘Drug peddler dies by suicide’ in custody
An alleged drug peddler “died by suicide” in police custody in Patuakhali, while two others were killed in “gunfights” with police and BGB in Cumilla and Cox’s Bazar between Wednesday night and yesterday morning.
In Patuakhali, “the hanging body of a suspected drug peddler” was recovered from Mohipur Police Station around 9:45pm, less than two hours after police picked him up from Kalapara upazila, claimed police.
Saidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Mohipur Police Station, said Omar Faruk Raihan was taken to the police station after being arrested in Kuakata Chowrasta area along with 13 yaba pills. He killed himself by hanging from a ventilator of the lock-up with his lungi, a traditional men’s garment, the OC claimed.
A three-member committee was formed by district police to investigate the death.
Raihan used to work as a helper of a bus on Kuakata-Barishal route. He stood accused in four narcotics cases filed with different police stations, claimed the OC.
Police prepared an inquest report in the presence of Anup Kumar Dash, executive magistrate and assistant commissioner (AC land) for Kalapara upazila, and Monirul Islam, medical officer of 20-bed Kuakata Hospital.
“We didn’t find injury marks except one in the neck,” said Anup.
The body was sent to Patuakhali General Hospital morgue for an autopsy.
Contacted, Raihan’s mother Reba Begum declined to comment.
Talking to this correspondent, Mainul Hasan, superintendent of Patuakhali police, said, “We have already formed a probe body and asked it to submit a report within seven working days.
“We will take lawful steps if any negligence is found.”
In Cumilla, another alleged drug peddler was killed in a “shootout” with police in Sadar upazila early yesterday. The dead is Shahidul Islam, 30, of the upazila.
Abu Salam Mia, officer-in-charge of Cumilla Sadar Police Station, said the “shootout” happened when a police team was raiding Satora area to arrest Shahidul around 1:45am.
Sensing the presence of police, Shahidul and his cohorts opened fire and the law enforcers retaliated. Shahidul was hit. He was declared dead after being taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital.
Shahidul was accused in at least 10 cases, including drug and arms related ones, said the OC, adding that they recovered a firearm and 652 yaba pills from the spot.
His mother Selina Begum said her son was a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver and used to run a poultry farm on the side. “I learnt that Shahidul was arrested at 3:00pm on Wednesday from Alekharchor area.”
Shahidul has a two and a half years old son.
In Cox’s Bazar, a suspected drug dealer was killed in a similar “shootout” with a joint team of police and Border Guard Bangladesh in Teknaf upazila Wednesday night.
Siraj Mia, 27, had been involved in peddling drugs for a long time, claimed Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station.
Our correspondents in Patuakhali, Cumilla and Cox’s Bazar contributed to this report.
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