Six killed in 'shootouts' in a single day

Six alleged criminals including two suspected drug dealers were killed in separate “gunfights” in three districts early yesterday.

A “drug dealer” was killed in Narayanganj, two alleged criminals – “a drug trader and a robber” -- were killed in Cox's Bazar in “gunfights” with police, while three suspected robbers were killed in infighting in Bandarban, law enforcers claimed.

At least 413 people have been killed in custody, shooting and incidents of shootouts involving law enforcers in the last nine months, according to rights body Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK).

Narayanganj police claimed that Ali Nur, 50, an accused in at least 20 cases and a listed top drug dealer, was killed in a “shootout” with the law enforcers in Sonargaon upazila.

Morshed Alam, officer-in-charge of Sonargaon police, said the “shootout” took place when a patrol team raided Chilarbagh area.

The drug peddlers opened fire on police, who retaliated, resulting in a “gunfight”, in which Nur was injured.

He was taken to a local hospital where doctors declared him dead. Police claimed to have recovered 300 yaba pills, a gun and 1.5kg of cannabis from the spot.

The death came days after Narayanganj police put a bounty of Tk 10,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Another alleged drug peddler, Imran alias Putia Mistri, 35, was killed in a “shootout” with police in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila around 5:00am yesterday.

Ranajit Kumar Barua, officer-in-charge of Teknaf police, said they arrested Imran on Saturday night and took him to Dargahpara graveyard area to recover stashed yaba pills.

Sensing the presence of police, his cohorts opened fire on them, prompting them to retaliate, he said, adding that Ranajit was hit and he died on the spot.

Police claimed to have recovered three firearms, five bullets and 7,000 yaba pills from the spot.

With these, at least 238 suspected drug dealers have been killed since the nationwide anti-narcotics drive began on May 4. Most of them were killed in so-called shootouts involving police and Rab.

In Maheshkhali upazila of the district, suspected robber Mohammad Karim, 32, was killed in a so-called gunfight with police.

Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Maheshkhali police, said the gunfight took place in Shapladeba village when robbers opened fire on law enforcers.

Bullet-hit Karim was rushed to Maheshkhali Upazila Health Complex where he was declared dead. Police claimed to have recovered eight locally made guns and 20 bullets from the spot.

In Bandarban, three alleged robbers were killed in what police claimed was a gunfight between two gangs in Baisharia area.

The deceased were identified as Anwar Hossain alias Anaiya, 28, Hamidur Rahman, 25, and Parvez Hossain Bappi, 26.

Zaker Hossain Majumadar, superintendent of Bandarban police, said a team of law enforcers rushed to the spot after hearing gunshots and recovered the bodies.

Four homemade guns and eight bullets were also found there, he claimed.

The deceased were accused in cases filed for robbery, murder, and abduction, the SP said.

Our correspondents in the districts concerned contributed to this report.

ASK REPORT

Of the 413 people who died in the last nine months while in custody, during “shootings” and “shootouts” involving law enforcers, 260 were killed during the countrywide anti-narcotics drive between May 15 and yesterday, according to a report released by the ASK.

The rights body prepared the report based on reports published in eight newspapers and information collected from its own sources.

Referring to the killings of 260 people during the drive, the rights body said the situation was panicking people.

Cox's Bazar Municipality councillor Akramul Haque was killed in a “gunfight” involving law enforcers on May 26, the report said, adding that his family on May 31 revealed an audio clip creating more controversy about involvement of law enforcers in such killings.

According to allegations raised by family members and witnesses, 21 people were detained by plainclothes men in the last nine months, the report said. Of them, two returned and 10 were later found to be arrested. However, the law-enforcement agencies denied such allegations.

The report further said 62 people died in jail custody during the corresponding time, while 20 people were killed and 2,609 wounded in 194 incidents of political violence.

The ASK said 95 women fell victim to sexual harassment. Of them, four committed suicide and seven people including a woman were killed for protesting harassment.

Besides, 616 women were raped and 54 of them were killed after rape, the report added.