4 killed in ‘gunfights’

Two suspected drug peddlers and two alleged robbers were killed in separate reported “gunfights” in Chattogram, Gazipur and Meherpur districts today.

In Chattogram, two suspected robbers were killed reportedly in a “gunfight” with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) today.

The diseased were identified as Zafar Member, 48, and Khalil Ahmed, 45. Both were accused in several cases, Mashkur Rahman, media officer of Rab-7, told The Daily Star.

The gunfight occurred at Dakkhin Sral area in Banskhali upazila of the district. Rab-7 recovered eight firearms including a foreign pistol, a huge number of bullets and native weapons from the spot, he added.

In Gazipur, Babul Mia, 28, a drug peddler and robber, was killed in a “gunfight” with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Gazipur's Shripur upazila, our correspondent reports.

Hailing from Jahangirpur village in the upazila Babul was accused in 24 cases including drug-related and robbery cases, said Rab’s Assistant Police Superintendent Kamruzzaman.

He was killed in the gunfight while members of the elite force were conducting a drive at Dombari in Shreepur around 3:15am, ASP Kamruzzaman further said.

After the gunfight, the Rab officials searched the body and found a pistol and 5,000 yaba tablets, he further added.

However, father of Babul Afaz Uddin claimed that his son was arrested from a hospital in Dhaka’s Khilkhet area yesterday noon.

In Meherpur, Enamul Haq, 42, was killed in a “gunfight” between two groups of drug traders at Kazipur village in Gangni upazila in the wee hours of today, UNB reports.

Acting on a tip-off that two groups of drug peddlers were exchanging bullets in the bordering area of the upazila, a team of police rushed to the spot around 1:00am and recovered Enamul’s bullet-hit body, said Obaidur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Gangni Police Station.

Enamul was wanted in six cases, UN reports quoting the OC.

A pistol, two bullets, and one kilogramme of hemp were recovered from the spot.