10 more killed in 'shootouts'

There seems to be no end in sight of the “gunfights” that are leaving alleged drug peddlers killed during the ongoing anti-narcotics drive across the country.          

Ten more people were shot to death in the so-called shootouts in eight districts yesterday, taking the tally of those killed in such incidents to 73 in the last 12 days.

Of the 10, two each were killed in Dinajpur and Comilla while one each in Joypurhat, Kurigram, Pabna, Mymensingh, Chandpur, Thakurgaon. 

The recent spate of “shootouts” began on May 15 when two alleged drug peddlers were killed. This has been going on despite concern from rights activists who termed those extrajudicial killings.

In Dinajpur, alleged drug dealers Sabdarul Islam and Abdus Salam were killed in two “gunfights” early yesterday.

The Rab claimed 40-year-old Sabdarul of Birganj upazila was killed in a “gunfight” between a gang of drug traders and members of the elite force in the upazila's Basudevpur village.

Mohammad Raju, son of Sabdarul, said his father had been traceless since Friday evening and his phone was found switched off.

Aged about 47, Salam of Dinajpur's Mohorampur village was killed in another “shootout” between two groups of drug traders in Paschim Deyal village, police claimed.

According to police, both the deceased were among those who controlled drug trade in the district.

A “gun battle” between drug traders and Rab in Bhimpur village of Joypurhat's Panchbibi upazila left Rentu Mia, 35, killed. He was from Uttar Gopalpur village in the same upazila.

In Comilla, alleged drug traders Babul, 40, and Almas, 35, were killed in a “gunfight” with police in Brahmanpara upazila early yesterday.

Syed Abu Mohammad Shajahan Kabir, officer-in-charge of Brahmanpara Police Station, claimed police recovered 40kg cannabis and a pistol from the spot.

According to police, Babul and Almas, residents of the same upazila, were accused in 16 and eight cases respectively.

Almas's wife Taslima Begum said her husband worked as a day labourer and was the only earning member of her family. He was picked up by police from his village home on Friday, she alleged.

Anwar Master, member of a union parishad, said Babul used to work as a drug carrier.

In Kurigram, alleged drug peddler Ibrahim Hossain from Bhurungamari upazila was killed in a “shootout” with police.

OC Imtiaz Kabir of Bhurungamari Police Station said Ibrahim, aged about 37, was accused in five drug cases.

In another “gunfight” between police and drug peddlers, alleged drug trader Abdur Rahman was killed in Pabna's Mohendrapur area.

A resident of the district's Kabirpur village, the 45-year-old man was arrested in the village on Friday noon.

The “gun battle” broke out after police had taken him to the area to arrest his “associates”, said Goutam Kumar Bishwas, additional superintendent of police in Pabna.

Police claimed to have seized a firearm, three bullets and 200 yaba tablets from the spot. They said Rahman was accused in nine cases.

In Mymensingh, alleged drug trader Shahjahan was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Ishwarganj upazila's Atharabri Telwari area early yesterday, said Ashikur Rahman, OC of Mymensingh Detective Branch of police.

Shahjahan, aged about 30, was from Bongaon village in the same upazila. He was accused in eight drug cases, police said.

Law enforcers claimed to have recovered 200gm heroin, five used bullets and two sharp weapons from the spot.

Alleged drug peddler Bablu, 35, was killed in a “shootout” with police in Chandpur's Kachua upazila.

Syed Mahbubur Rahman, OC of Kachua Police Station, said a police team arrested Bablu from his house. The team came under a bomb attack on its way back to the police station. A “gun battle” broke out there that left Bablu dead, he said.

In Thakurgaon, alleged drug trader Mobarak Hossain was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Pashchim Begunbari village early yesterday.

Abdul Latif, OC of Thakurgaon Police Station, claimed to have recovered 200 yaba tablets from the spot.

A resident of Chit Chilarang village in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila, 40-year-old Mobarak was accused in 15 cases, police said.

His wife Monowara Begum, 35, admitted that her husband was involved in drug trade. She alleged that police picked up her husband from their house on Tuesday evening.

However, the OC denied allegation of picking up Mobarak.

The nationwide anti-drug drive was launched by Rab on May 4 upon receiving directives from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Police have been carrying out the drive since May 18.

According to police headquarters, police during the drive arrested 6,200 alleged drug traders and filed around 5,000 cases across the country. Police also seized 15 lakh yaba tablets, 2,000kg cannabis, 13,000 bottles of phensedyl, 52,000 litres of local liquor and 450 bottles of foreign liquor.

The Rab during the drive arrested around 700 people while its mobile courts jailed around 3,100 for different terms.

Our correspondents in Dinajpur, Comilla, Kurigram, Pabna, Mymensingh, Thakurgaon and a correspondent in Chandpur contributed to this report.