‘Drug peddler’ dies after diving into water during raid

An alleged drug peddler died after jumping into a pond while trying to avoid arrest in a raid conducted by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Tanore upazila of Rajshahi early today.

Deceased Md Sayem, 30, was resident of Afinepalpara village in Poba upazila, our Rajshahi correspondent reports quoting Major Ashraful Islam, commander of crime prevention specialised company, a unit of Rab-5.

Acting on tip off, the Rab-5 members took positions at Noapara village in Tanore and challenged two youths who were riding a motorbike around 4:00am, Major Ashraful said.

At one stage, the youths ran away leaving their motorcycle on the road to avoid arrest. One of them fled away to nearby a cornfield while Sayem jumped into a pond, the Rab official said.

One hour later, Rab members along with locals rescued Sayem as he went under the water. He was whisked off to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

The other man named Selim Reza was detained later.

The law enforcers seized the motorbike and eight kilogrammes of ganja and Tk 2,200 from a bag abandoned by the alleged drug peddlers.