A “top yaba trader” was killed in a “gunfight” hours after his arrest in Teknaf of Cox's Bazar early yesterday, said police.

The deceased, 35-year-old Shamsul Alam Prokash alias Bormaiya Shamsu, was from West Sikdarpara of Hnila union and his ancestors had come from Myanmar.

He was one of the top yaba traders as per a list prepared by the home ministry. He was also an accused in 10 narcotics cases, said Prodip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge (OC) of Teknaf police.

The “gunfight” between police and Shamsu's accomplices took place around 4:00am when the law enforcers took him to Damdamia area under Hnila union for recovering yaba tablets, the OC said.

Shamsu was arrested in Hnila area on Sunday evening, he added.

Based on his information, the police took him to Damdamia and came under attack by his accomplices, he claimed.

In self-defence, the police fired around 40 bullets. At one stage, the criminals escaped, but Shamsu got shot. He was taken to Cox's Bazar General Hospital where doctors declared him dead, the OC said.

Three police officials were also injured during the “gunfight” and they took treatment at Teknaf Upazila Health Complex, he said, adding, 20,000 pieces of yaba, two locally made guns and 12 bullets were recovered from the spot.

A case was filed with Teknaf police.

Elsewhere, in Bogura, alleged robber Md Jewel was bullet-hit and arrested after a “gunfight” with detectives at Bihar Pashchimpara in Shibganj upazila yesterday.

Another alleged robber, Sana Miah, 45, was arrested after receiving bullet wounds in a “shootout” with police in Panchbibi upazila in Joypurhat yesterday.