‘Drug trader’ killed in Joypurhat ‘gunfight’

A suspected drug trader was killed in a “gunfight” with the members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat early today.

The deceased was identified as Tofazzal Hossain of Maheshpur village in the upazila. He was accused in at least 13 drug cases, our Dinajpur correspondent reports quoting police.

On secret information, a team of Rab conducted a drive in Tausara area around 1:45am, said Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Azmal Hossain, also commanding officer of Joypurhat Rab.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the alleged drug traders opened fire, forcing them to fire back, triggering the “gunfight” which left Wazed bullet wounds, the Rab official said.

Tofazzal was taken to Joypurhat General Hospital where doctors declared him dead, he said.

The team recovered a pistol, one bullet, a magazine and 150 bottles of phensidyl from the spot, he added.

Two Rab members were also injured during the incident.