3 ‘yaba smugglers’ killed in Cox’s Bazar gunfight: police

Three alleged yaba smugglers were killed in a "gunfight" with police in Chokoria upazila of Cox's Bazar early today.

The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately, reports our Cox's Bazar correspondent.

Four police personnel -- Officer-in-charge of Chokoria Police Station MdHabibur Rahman, In-charge of Harbang Police outpost MdAminulislam and two constables Sajjad and Sabuj -- were injured during the gunfight.

They were admitted to Chokoria Upazila Health Complex, said police officer MdAminulislam.   

The law enforcers arrested two persons along with yaba pills from Baniachhara around 1:00am and during interrogation, they informed that a group of smugglers were dealing yaba in Gorjon Bagan area of Boitoli.

Around 2:30am, police conducted a drive in the area. But sensing their presence, the smugglers opened fire at them, forcing them to retaliate, triggering a "gunfight", the police officer said.

At one stage, the yaba smugglers managed to flee the scene, he said.

Later, the team found three bullet-hit bodies in the area, he added.

They also recovered 44,000 pieces of yaba, two locally made guns and seven cartridges from the spot.