‘Drug trader’ killed in Ctg ‘gunfight’

An alleged drug peddler was killed in "gunfight" with the members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Chittagong Sadar upazila last night.

The deceased was identified as Zafar Ahmed, 35, said to be a ringleader of an organised drug trading gang, reports our local correspondent.

A team of Rab-7 intercepted Zafar along with his four associates on way to Patenga beach around 11:30pm last night, Lt Col Mista Uddin Ahmed, commanding officer of Rab-7 in Chittagong, said.

At one point, Zafar fired gunshots at the Rab men forcing them to shoot back. The fight left him critically injured, he added. "He succumbed to his injuries at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH)."

A light gun and a foreign made pistol were recovered from the spot.

Earlier, the Rab team recovered around five lakh pieces of Yaba tablets in a search at outer anchorage of the Chittagong sea port. Zafar was the main accused of the drug haul case, Rab said.