Anti-drug drive: Municipal councillor among 11 killed in ‘gunfights’

Eleven more alleged drug peddlers, including a municipal councillor, were killed in “gunfights” in eleven districts early today amid anti-narcotic drives of law enforcers across the country.

In the latest "gunfight" incidents one each was killed in Cox’s Bazar, Chandpur, Kushtia, Khulna, Mymensingh, Chittagong, Bagerhat, Meherpur, Thakurgaon and Noakhali districts with law enforcers while one each was killed in "gunfights" between two groups of drug peddlers in Jhenidah.

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10 more killed in 'shootouts'

Total 15 policemen were also reportedly injured in the separate incidents of alleged gunfights.

The tally of alleged illegal drug traders killed in “shootouts” stood at 84 since the special force began the anti-drug drive on May 4.

Cox’s Bazar

In Cox’s Bazar, suspected drug dealer Ekramul Haque, 46, also a councillor in Teknaf Municipality, was killed in a reported gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members on Cox's Bazar-Teknaf marine drive road in Noakhaliapara in Teknaf around 1:00am, said Major M Ruhul Amin, company commander of Rab-7 in Cox’s Bazar.

Ekramul, also a local Awami League leader, was an elected municipal councillor from ward no 3 of Teknaf.    

Around 10,000 yaba tablets, a foreign pistol, a one shooter gun, six round bullets and five bullet shells were recovered from the spot, added the Rab official.

Bagerhat

In Bagerhat, alleged drug peddler Mitul Biswas, 45, was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Chinguri-Mochondopur in Chitalmari upazila during the wee hours, said Anukul Bishwas, officer-in-charge (OC) of Chitalmari Police Station.

Biswas was an accused in 22 cases, including nine drugs cases, the OC said.

Police recovered 100 yaba tablets, 2-kg hemp, a shutter gun and two rounds of bullets from the spot.

Kushtia

In Kushtia, Halim Mondol, 35, a listed firearms and yaba peddler, died on the spot as his cohorts exchanged bullets with police during a gunfight in Housing area in Kushtia town around 2:45am, said Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kushtia Model Police Station.

Four policemen were injured in the incident. Police recovered one shutter gun, one pipe gun, 3 bullets and 800 pieces of yaba tablets.

Meherpur

In Meherpur, a top drug peddler, Hafizul Islam, 45, was killed in a “gunfight” with police at Garabaria filed at about 1:30am, said Harendranath Sarker, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gangni Police Station,.

Islam was accused in 12 drug cases which were filed with Gangni Police Station, the OC said.

Jhenidah

In Jhenidah, suspected drug peddler Ràfiku Islam alias Luton, 36, was killed in a “gunfight” between two groups of drug peddlers due to their internal feud on Jhenidah-Kushtia highway near Bordah-Jamalpur village around 1:00am, said Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shailakupa Police Station.

Thakurgaon

In Thakurgaon, Rafiqul Islam alias Taleban, 51, a suspected drug peddler, was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Nekmarad Durlavpur village of Ranishankoil upazila around 2:00am, our local correspondent  reports quoting a press release issued by the district police.

Chandpur

In Chandpur, a suspected drug peddler Selim, 37, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Hazaridone area on Chandpur-Matlab road in Matlab Dakshin upazila around 2:45am, police said.

Doctors at Matlab Health Complex declared Selim dead after he was rushed there with bullet wounds, said Kutub Uddin, officer-in-charge of Matlab Dakshin Police Station.  

Khulna

In Khulna, listed drug peddler Abu Kalam was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Dighalia upazila around 3:00am, Rahman, additional police superintendent, told our local correspondent.

Mymensingh

In Mymensingh, an alleged drug pddler, Sanjoy, 25, was killed in a "gunfight" with police in Bolashpur Morakhola area in Mymensingh town around 1:30am, said Khandaker Shaker Ahmed, officer-in-charge (Investigation) of Kotwali Police Station.

Two police constables-Humayun and Amir Hamza injured in the firing were treated at Mymensingh Police Lines Hospital, he said.

Police claimed to have recovered 100 grammes of heroin, 100 pieces of yaba tablets, four used bullets, two sharp weapons from the spot.

Chittagong

In Chittagong, suspected drug peddler Md Rihan Prakash, 27, son of Maliul Haque of Golabaria area under Muradpur union in Sitakunda upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Guliakhali Sandwip ferry ghat around 12:45am, UNB adds. Rihan was accused in eight cases.

Noakhali

In Noakhali, a suspected drug trader Hasan Mia, son of Hanif Mia of Banoai village in Sonaimuri upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Bogadia area around 3:00am, UNB reports.

He was accused in 11 cases, AKM Zahirul Islam, additional superintendent of police in the district, told the news agency.

Police recovered an LG gun, seven rounds of bullets and 120 pieces of yaba tablets from the spot, he added.