'Drug trader' killed in 'gunfight' with police

A suspected drug trader was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Chuadanga's Uzalpur village early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Abul Bashar alias Pappu, 45, son of Bazlur Rahman of Akandbaria in Chuadanga sadar upazila.

According to Officer-in-Charge of Chuadanga Sadar Police Station Delwar Hossain, the law enforcers had information that a group of drug traders carrying contraband phensidyl was entering Bangladesh territory from India through Uzalpur border.

A police team was sent to the area. When they located a group of people at Uzalpur field, police asked them to stop.

“But the group responded by opening fire on police prompting them to retaliate. The gun-battle lasted an hour,” the OC said. 

Police recovered Pappu's body after the “gunfight”, he claimed.

The law enforcers also claimed to have recovered a shutter gun, four crude bombs and 170 bottles of phensidyl from the spot.

The OC said Pappu was an accused in six cases -- one for murder, four for drugs-related offences and one for explosions -- filed with Chuadanga Sadar Police.

His family members admitted that Pappu was once involved in drug trade.

They claimed that plainclothes men had picked up Pappu on Monday near Chuadanga Judge Court soon after he appeared before the court in a narcotics case.

“Pappu surrendered to police in April 2017 and returned to normal life,” Pappu's elder brother Arefin Bashar Newaj told this correspondent over phone.

When asked, OC Delwar, however, said police was not aware of any such arrest.

“Rather, police had information that Abul Bashar [Pappu] was again involved in drug trade,” the police official said.