7 more ‘drug peddlers’ killed; tally 41 in nine days

Seven more suspected drug peddlers were killed through last night, taking the tally of “gunfights” to 41 in nine days of countrywide anti-narcotics crackdown.

Our local correspondents and agencies report, “gunfights” after the midnight hours took place in Kushtia, Thakurgaon, Comilla, Gaibandha, Jamalpur and Rangpur districts.

In Kushtia, two top-listed drug dealers – Fatik alias Gaffar Sheikh, 37, and Liton Sheikh, 40 – were killed in separate “gunfights” with police in Kumarkhali and Bheramara upazilas.

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12 more 'drug dealers' killed

Officer-In-Charge (OC) of Kumarkhali Police Station Abdul Khaleq said, Gaffar was killed when police raided a den of drug peddlers in Lahinipara around 1:15am. One pistol, 700 pieces of yaba tablets, and 500gm of cannabis were found in his possession.

Gaffar was accused in eight drug related cases filed with Kumarkhali Police Station.

On the other hand, Gaffar’s wife Rabia claimed her husband was missing since Tuesday morning and she knew nothing of her husband’s drug-peddling affairs.

Anisur Rahman, OC of Bheramara police, said Liton was killed during a gun-battle with drug peddlers in Hawakhali field around 2:30am. One pistol, five bullets, 500 pieces of yaba and 200gm heroin were found with Liton, who stood accused in seven cases.

In Gaibandha, a top drug dealer Raju Mia, 30, was killed in a village of Palashbari upazila around 3:00am, said a local official of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) seeking anonymity. One foreign pistol, three bullets and huge stash of cannabis were said to have been seized.

In Comilla, Nurul Absar Isa, a top-listed drug peddler was killed in Gumti embankment area of Adarsha Sadar upazila. He was arrested Tuesday and was accompanied during a drive, UNB reports quoting Abu Salam, OC of Kotwali Model police.

“Nurul’s associates opened gunfire and we fired back. After the gunfight subsided, Nurul was found dead on the spot. He was wanted in seven cases,” the OC said.

In Jamalpur, an unidentified suspected drug peddler was killed in Sankanda area, Sadar municipality, UNB quotes Nasimul Islam, OC of Jamalpur Sadar Police Station.

In Rangpur, Md Shahin, 45, was killed in Hajirhat, Rangpur city, around 2:00am, said Saifur Rahman, additional police superintendent (Circle-A) of the district. According to him, police intervened a drug trade where the “gunfight” ensued, and subsequently Shahin died.

Police sent the body to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for autopsy. The deceased is said to be an accused in different drug and robbery related cases, said police. 129 bottles of phensidyl were found from the spot.

In Thakurgaon, Aktabul, 38, who was arrested during a drive on Monday night, was killed in Pirganj upazila, Farhad Ahmed, police superintendent of the district said.