'Drug peddler' killed in 'gunfight'

A convicted robber, also an alleged drug peddler, was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Sreenagar upazila early yesterday.

Deceased Mohammad Tajel, 36, son of Din Islam Khorshed alias Yunus Sheikh of Baghorar Rudrapara village of the same upazila, was jailed for seven years in a robbery case. He was also accused in nine other cases for peddling drugs and other crimes, said Yunus Ali, officer-in-charge of Sreenagar police.

Acting on a tip off, police arrested Tajel at Manirampur upazila in Jashore on Friday morning. The law enforcers later took him to Pashchim Baroikhali in Sreenagar around 1:00am to recover hidden firearms, said the OC.

Sensing the presence of police, his associates opened fire on them, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate. As Tajel tried to escape, he was hit by a bullet, the OC claimed.

He was rushed to Sreenagar Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, he added.

Three policemen were also injured during the “gunfight” and were undergoing treatment at Munshiganj General Hospital, the OC informed.

The police recovered a single-barrel gun, three bullets, 101 yaba pills and some cartridges from the spot.