3 suspected drug peddlers, robber killed

Two suspected drug peddlers and a suspected robber were killed in separate “gunfights” in three districts early yesterday.

In Kushtia's Sadar upazila, a “gunfight” between two groups of drug peddlers left one dead, claimed Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Kushtia Model Police Station.

The dead -- Nazmul Hossain Malitha, 40, of the district's Daulatpur upazila -- was an enlisted drug peddler and accused in 11 drug related cases, police claimed.

Hearing gunshots, a police team rushed to Shaldah village around 2:30am and recovered Nazmul's bullet-ridden body, the OC said.

The body was sent to Kushtia General Hospital morgue.

However, Nazmul's family members said he was picked up on Saturday. Asked, the law enforcers denied the allegation.

Police claimed to have recovered 600 yaba pills, a pistol and two bullets from the spot.

Meanwhile, another suspected drug peddler was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Cumilla's Chandina upazila around 3:30am.

The dead -- Mangal Miah, 55 -- was accused in 21 cases, claimed Abul Faisal, officer-in-charge of Chandina Police Station.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided the upazila's Pirerchar area to recover drug. Sensing their presence, Mangal and his cohorts opened fire, forcing them to retaliate.

At one point, Mangal sustained bullet injuries. He died on the way to a hospital, the OC claimed.

Police claimed to have recovered a gun, two round bullets, 500 yaba tablets and 50 bottles of Phensidyl from the spot.

In Munshiganj's Sadar upazila, an alleged robber was killed in a “gunfight” with police early yesterday.

The dead -- Humayun Bepari, 30 -- was accused in six cases, claimed Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Munshiganj Sadar Police Station.

The “gunfight” took place when police went in Taleshwar Bridge area of the upazila to recover firearms, the law enforcers claimed.

Sensing their presence, Humayun and his cohorts opened fire, forcing them to retaliate, police officials claimed.

At one point of the “gunfight”, he was caught in the line of fire and sustained bullet wounds. Later, doctors declared him dead at Munshiganj General Hospital.

Two police officials -- SI Debashish Kundu and ASI Minhaj -- also sustained bullet injuries in the “gunfight”.

They were admitted to a local hospital.

Police claimed to have recovered two pistols, three bullets and sharp weapons from the scene.

[Our Kushtia, Cumilla and Munshiganj correspondents contributed to this report.]