‘Drug peddler’ killed in Chapainawabganj ‘gunfight’

A suspected drug peddler was killed in a ‘‘gunfight’’ with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members in Chapainawabganj’s Gomostapur upazila early today.

Deceased, Abul Hossain Babu, 37, son of Alam Hossain of Shibrampur village in the upazila, was an accused in nine cases, including eight drug-related cases, filed with different police stations, our local correspondent reports quoting a Rab official.

Tipped off that a group of 'drug peddlers' gathered in Nayadibari area of Gomostapur upazila for 'drug dealing', a team of Rab-5 conducted a drive there around 1:00am, said squadron leader Sayeed Abdullah Al Murad, camp commander of Rab-5 in Chapainawabganj.

Sensing presence of the Rab team, the 'drug peddlers' opened fire on the elite forces, forcing them to fire back in retaliation triggering a gunfight.

After the “gun battle”, bullet-hit Babu was found lying on the spot and later he was taken to the upazila health complex where doctors declared him dead.

Two Rab members were also injured in the gunfight, claimed the Rab official.

The Rab team also recovered one pistol, three bullets and 177 bottles from the spot.

With the death, at least 223 suspected drug dealers and peddlers have been killed since the anti-narcotics drive began on May 4. Most of them were killed in “shootouts” with police and Rab.