4 more ‘drug peddlers’ killed in ‘gunfights’

Four more suspected drug peddlers were killed in reported gunfights last night and early today in Natore, Keraniganj and Kushtia districts.

Of them, two 'drug peddlers' were killed in Kushtia and one each in Keraniganj and Natore.

In Natore, a suspected drug peddler named Osman Gani was killed in a reported ‘gunfight’ with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members in Bahimali village of Boraigram upazila last night.

Sensing suspicious activity, Rab-5 conducted a drive in the area around 11:00pm, said Major Shibli Mostafa, commander of Rab-5.

At one stage, after acknowledging that elite forcers are conducting a raid in the area, Osman and his cohorts opened fire at Rab members trigging the gunfight between both the parties.

After the gunfight, Osamn’s bullet hit body was recovered from the spot and later was taken to a local hospital where the doctors declared him dead, the Rab official said.

The incident also left two Rab members injured, the commander added.

Arms, bullets and illegal drugs were recovered from the spot.

In Keraniganj, Nur Hossain Nuru, 35, a suspected drug peddler, also wanted in 12 criminal cases, was killed in a “gunfight” with Detective Branch (DB) of police at Deushur, reports UNB.

Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of DB police, said the “gunfight” took place near Diamond Melamine Factory around 3:00am, from where police also recovered a firearm and 35 pieces of Yaba tablets.

In Kushtia, two alleged drug peddlers -- Abdul Mannaf alias Fotu, 35, and Rassel Ahmed, 30,  -- were killed in a ‘gunfight’ with Rab at Anandabazar village in Mirpur upazila early today.

Acting on a tip-off, that a group of drug peddlers are holding a secret meeting, a Rab team conducted a drive in Anandabazar village area at about 3:30am said Mohaiminul Islam, company commander of Rab-12.

Sensing law enforcers, the criminals opened fire at Rab, leading to the gunfight, the Rab official said adding that at one stage all the criminals fled the scene.

Two dead bodies were recovered from the spot and according to police both of them were top listed drug peddlers in the district.

Rab recovered two pistols, 12 bullets and drugs from the spot.