'Outlaw' killed in 'gunfight' with police

An alleged outlaw was killed in a "gunfight" with police in Rajbari's Pangsha, while a suspected yaba trader was killed in "an exchange of fire" between two groups of yaba traders in Cox's Bazar early yesterday. 

The man killed in Pangsha upazila was Moazzem Fakir, 32, a "member outlawed Sarbahara Party", reports a correspondent from Faridpur, quoting police.

Moazzem, of Modyapatta village in the upazila, was also the second-in-command of "Bipul Bahini" which is involved in different criminal activities like extortion, said police.  

Mofazzel Hossain, officer-in-charge of Pangsha Police Station, said they had arrested Moazzem in Ashulia in Dhaka early Thursday. Later, he was taken to Rajbari.

As per Moazzem's statement, police along with him went to Noura Bongram village to recover firearms and bullets. 

When the law enforcers reached the village around 2:30am, cohorts of Moazzem opened fire. Police then retaliated, triggering the "gunfight".

Moazzem was hit by bullets as he tried to flee from police custody, the police official said.

He was rushed to Pangsha Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead.

Police claimed to have recovered a firearm and a bullet from the spot.

According to police, Moazzem was accused in several cases, including seven for murder.

In another incident, an alleged yaba trader was killed when two groups of yaba traders were reportedly exchanging fire in Kata Pahar area of Cox's Bazar Sadar upazila, reports our correspondent there.

Deceased Mostaq Ahmed alias Haji Mofiz, 25, was from Dakkhin Kalatoli area.

Acting on information that two groups of yaba traders were locked in a gun battle over establishing dominance in the area around 5:00am, a police team went to the spot and found Mostaq lying in a pool of blood, said Baktiar Uddin Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.

Later, he was taken to Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Police claimed to have recovered 2,800 yaba tablets, a firearm and bullets from the spot.

Mostaq stood accused in at least seven cases filed in connection with drug smuggling and possession of firearms, the OC added.