2 more killed in 'gunfights' as drug war on

Two alleged drug traders were killed in separate “gunfights” with police in Trishal and Tarakanda upazilas early yesterday, days after they were allegedly picked up by the law enforcers.

The deceased were identified as Swapan Mia, 32, son of Abdul Kuddus of Trishal, and Ali Hossain, 38, son of Shahed Ali of Tarakanda.

Swapan, a mason by profession, was allegedly picked up by police on Thursday around 6:00pm when he was going to Trishal Bazar to buy meat.

“He [Swapan] was picked by police from Trishal Bus Stand area and taken to the police station,” said Rubel Mia, Swapan's younger brother who works in a local newspaper.

Rubel claimed they had met Swapan at the police station, given him food and left around 2:00am, but in the morning they received the news that he was killed in a “gunfight”.

He added his brother left drug trading around a year ago, but sometimes he used to take drugs.

Jakiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Trishal police, said Swapan was killed when they conducted a raid in Bhatipara area around 4:00am on information that drug dealers were trading drugs there.

“The drug traders opened fired on the police team, prompting them to retaliate,” said the OC who led the raid.

Swapan who sustained bullet wounds during the “gunfight” was rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Three policemen were injured and were treated at Trishal Upazila Health Complex.

The police recovered three sharp weapons and around 200 pieces of yaba pills, they claimed.

Swapan was wanted in nine cases, eight related to narcotics and one to murder, the OC informed.

In a similar incident, Ali Hossain was killed in Tarakanda, according to Ashiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Detective Branch (DB) of police in Mymensingh.

On information that a gang was trading drugs at Mokamiakanda, police raided the area around 2:45am, the OC said.

The drug peddlers opened fire on the police team, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate, said the OC, claiming that Ali sustained bullet wounds during the “gunfight”.

He was rushed to MMCH where doctors declared him dead, the OC added.

Police recovered 200 pieces of yaba pills, three used bullets and two sharp weapons from the spot.

Ali was wanted in some 25 cases related to narcotics, theft and robbery, the OC informed.

Two policemen were injured and were being treated at Mymensingh Police Lines Hospital, he claimed.

Mujibur Rahman, member of Ward no-2 of Kakni Union Parishad, quoting neighbours said Ali was picked up from his house on Monday night and remained traceless since then.

The bodies were sent to MMCH morgue for autopsy.

Separate cases were filed.

With the latest deaths, at least 154 people, who, according to law enforcers were either drug dealers or peddlers, have been killed in so-called gunfights amid the ongoing nationwide anti-narcotics drives.