3 more 'drug dealers' killed in 'shootouts'

Three alleged drug peddlers, including an elder brother of suspended Sramik League leader Tufan Sarkar, were killed in “gunfights” in Bogra, Tangail and Jessore yesterday.

Police said Tufan's brother Putu Sarker, 45, was accused in five cases.

His two other brothers Sohag Sarkar and Jhumu Sarker are also top-listed drug traders in Bogra. They have been on the run since May 4 when the countrywide special anti-narcotics drive began, according to law enforcers.

Tufan, former Sramik League convenor in Bogra town, allegedly abducted a schoolgirl from her home, raped her and tortured her mother in July last year. He is now behind bars in two cases in connection with the incidents.

Putu was killed in a tripartite “gunfight” involving police and two rival groups of drug peddlers in Bogra. The two other “gun battles” took place between Rab and a criminal gang in Tangail and rival groups in Jessore.

With the three deaths yesterday, at least 182 alleged drug peddlers have been killed since the beginning of the countrywide anti-narcotics drive on May 4. Most of them were killed in so-called shootout incidents involving the police and Rab.

The families of the deceased alleged that law enforcers picked up their relatives and later cooked up stories of “shootouts” to cover up the murders.

In Bogra town, Putu was killed in a tripartite “gunfight” near Bhatkandi Bridge around 3:00am.

Acting on information that a “gun battle” broke out between two groups of drug traders, a police patrol team went there, said Ali Asraf Bhuiyan, superintendent of police in Bogra.

Sensing the presence of law enforcers, criminals opened fire on police, forcing them to retaliate. At one stage, Putu was caught in the line of fire, the SP added.

The injured was rushed to Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

In Tangail, alleged drug peddler Mohammad Afzal was killed in a “gunfight” between Rab and a criminal gang.

Rab officials said 35-year-od Afzal was a top-listed “drug peddler” and accused in three cases with Tangail Model Police Station.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of Rab-12 from Tangail camp launched an anti-drug drive in Beguntal area around 3:00am, said Maj Robiul Islam, commander of Crime Prevention Company-3 of Rab-12.

Sensing the presence of law enforcers, the criminals opened fire on them. The Rab men fired retaliatory shots in self-defence, triggering the “gunfight”.

After some time, criminals fled the scene, leaving behind injured Afzal. He was taken to Tangail General Hospital where doctors declared him dead, the Rab official said.

In Jessore, alleged drug peddler Ratan Hossain was killed in a “gunfight” between rival groups in Chowgacha upazila's Burar Beel area.

Ratan, 30, was accused in several narcotics cases, said Khondokar Samimuddin, officer-in-charge of Chowgacha Police Station.

After receiving information about the “gunfight”, a police team went there and found the “drug peddler” injured by bullets, the OC said.

Ratan was taken to Jessore General Hospital where doctors said he was brought dead.

However, Ratan's mother Farida Begum claimed that her son used to work at a garment factory in Dhaka and was not involved in narcotics trade.

Ratan had been missing since Thursday after he left home for Magura, she said, adding that he went to Jessore several days ago.

Our correspondents in Bogra, Tangail and Benapole contributed to this report.