5 killed in ‘gunfights’

Five people including two suspected Rohingya human traffickers and an alleged drug peddler, were killed in separate “gunfights” with police in Cox’s Bazar, Pabna and Jashore early today.

The Rohingya “human traffickers” were killed in an alleged gunfight with police on the Marine Drive Road in Teknaf's Shamlapur around 4:00am.

The deceased are Azim Ullah, 20, son of Abdur Rahim; and Abdus Salam, 52, son of Rahim Ali, our Cox’s Bazar correspondent reports quoting Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Model Police Station.

Azim Ullah and Abdus Salam were the residents of number 23 Rohingya camp in Shamlapur area and number 15 Rohingya camp in Jamtoli area of Ukhiya respectively, the OC said.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team conducted a drive in Shamlapur but sensing their presence, the suspected human traffickers opened fire, triggering a gunfight, the police official claimed.

Later, the two were found with bullet wounds and were rushed to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared them dead.

Police also recovered two local guns and bullets from their possessions, he added.

Four policemen were injured during the incident, he claimed.

In Cox’s Bazar town, suspected drug trader Sayedul Mostafa alias Bhulu, 34, was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Katapahar in the early morning.

The gunfight took place when Mostafa’s associates started firing at police when they were on a firearms-recovery drive along with Mostafa.  

Police recovered 400 Yaba pills, a light gun and two cartridges from the spot, said Faird Uddin Khandaker, OC of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station.

Mostofa was accused in several cases, he added.

In Pabna, suspected robber Md Hafizur Rahman Titas, 38, a resident of Basher Bada village, was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Sara Jhaudia area of Ishwardi upazila around 2:30am, UNB adds.

Police arrested Titas from Piyarpur intersection and later, conducted a drive in the area around 2:30am to catch other members of the gang.

The robbers opened fire as soon as police reached the place, triggering a gunfight.

Titash received a gunshot wound to the chest when he tried to flee. He was taken to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex where doctors pronounced him dead.

In Jashore, an alleged robber was killed in a “gunfight” with police on Jashore-Magura road in Nongarpur area around 3:00am, said Samir Kumar Sarker, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station.

The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately.

Police recovered a one-shooter gun, three bullets and several sharp weapons from the spot.