3 killed in Cox’s Bazar, Faridpur ‘gunfights’
Two Rohingya men, suspected to be drug dealers, and one alleged criminal were killed today in separate incidents of “gunfights” with law enforcers in Cox’s Bazar and Faridpur respectively.
In Cox’s Bazar, two Rohingyas -- identified as Abul Hasim, 30, son of Hossain Sharif and Mohammad Ayub, 24, son of Shamsul Alam and both residents of Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Ukhiya -- were killed in a reported gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive road early today, reports UNB.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shah Alam, in-charge of Rab-15 CPC-2 Hoaikyang Camp, said a Rab team conducted a drive in the area after being tipped-off about smuggling of a large amount of contraband Yaba pills.
But as soon as the Rab team reached the spot, the criminals opened fire, which led to a gunfight, he claimed.
“Hasim and Ayub suffered gunshot wounds and were caught after the skirmish,” he said. “They were taken to Ukhiya Health Complex where doctors pronounced them dead.”
Three members of Rab were also injured in the gunfight, the ASP claimed, adding that they recovered 10,000 Yaba pills, two locally-made guns and five bullets from the spot.
Alam said the bodies were sent to Cox’s Bazar hospital morgue for autopsy and added that a case will be filed in this regard.
Bangladesh is currently hosting more than 1.1 million Rohingyas in camps in the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar. Most of them fled their homes in Myanmar’s Rakhine State since August 2017.
Many Rohingya are accused of being involved in smuggling, drug dealing, mugging and various crimes. A number of Rohingyas, suspected to be drug dealers, have been killed in alleged gunfights with the law enforcement agencies over the months.
In Faridpur, an alleged criminal was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Boalmari upazila early today hours after his arrest from Jhenidah, our local correspondent reports quoting police.
Deceased Enayet Ullah, 40, was son of Mujibur Rahman of Ramchandrapur in the upazila, said Aminul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Boalmari Police Station.
Enayet was arrested from Jhenaidah’s Shailkupa upazila yesterday and based on his information, police along with him conducted a drive at Barankula village of Boalmari around 3:00am to recover “hidden firearms”, the OC said.
As soon as they reached there, Enayet’s cohorts opened fire targeting the law enforcers. Police retaliated ensuing a “gunfight”.
Enayet was caught in the middle of “gunfight” and hit by a bullet, the police official said.
Later, police found Enayet with bullet wounds and sent him to Boalmari Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, our correspondent reports.
There are 13 cases filed against Enayet for robbery, murder and theft with Boalmari Police Station and Kashiyani Police Station of Gopalganj district, the OC said.
Meanwhile, deceased’s niece Tania Mithu claimed that police picked up her uncle from Magura four days ago and since then, the family did not get any information about him.
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