Trafficker, 2 ‘robbers’ killed in ‘gunfights’

A human trafficker and two alleged robbers were killed in separate “gunfights” today in Cox’s Bazar and the Sundarbans respectively.

This is the second time in three days that police crossed swords with human traffickers of Cox’s Bazar after The Daily Star ran a series of reports on human trafficking.

Dead Zafar Alam, 37, son of Jahir Ahmed from Ukhia, was accused of at least four trafficking cases, our Cox’s Bazar correspondent reports quoting Dawan Abul Hossain, officer-in-charge of local Detective Branch.

Police cracked down on him red handed in Ukhia upazila’s marine drive channel around 2:00am when he was trafficking some people to Malaysia, the OC said.

“The gang opened gunfire and the law enforcers were compelled to retaliate with firepower. Zafar came in line of shooting and was later found injured at the spot.”

He was taken to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead. Police Constable Sohel and an Ansar man Monir Ahmed were injured in the gunfight, he said.

One LG and two rounds of bullets were recovered from the spot.

Earlier on Friday, three alleged human traffickers were killed in a ‘gunfight’ with police in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar.

‘NOTORIOUS DACOITS GUNNED DOWN’

Alamgir, 35, the second-in-command of a notorious local dacoit gang Mayjha Bahini, and Ripon, 30, member of the racket, were killed in “gunfight” with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Chandpai range of the Sundarbans in Bagerhat early today.

Our Bagerhat correspondent filed the report quoting Maj Adnan Kabir, deputy commander of local Rab-8. However, further details on the victims could not be obtained.

The shootout took place in Nandobala Khal area within around 5:05am, the elite force official said. “A Rab-8 team raided the area during the gang’s preparation for a heist.”

“Sensing their presence, the robbers opened fire. The Rab members were compelled to fire back. After the half an hour battle, the two were found dead on the spot,” he said.

Later, locals rushed to the spot and identified the dead. The law enforcers recovered 13 arms and 100 bullets from the spot, he said.