Suspected drug trader killed in 'gunfight'

A suspected drug dealer was killed yesterday allegedly in a “gunfight” with police in Kalibari area of Mymensingh city, police said.

The dead, Lalu Mia, 45, was a resident of city's Krishtapur Baganbari area.

“On information that a group of narcos was trading drugs in Kalibari Puratan Godaragaht area, a police team conducted a raid around 1:30am,” said Shah Kamal Akanda, officer-in-charge of Detective Branch of Police in Mymensingh, who also led the team.

Sensing police presence, the drug traders opened fire on the law enforcers, prompting them to retaliate, which triggered a “gunfight”, he added.

Lalu sustained bullet wounds during the “shootout” and was rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) where the doctors declared him dead, the OC said.

Police recovered 150 grams of heroin and 300 pieces of yaba pills from the spot.

The body was sent to Mymensingh Medical College morgue for an autopsy.

Lalu was accused in eight cases, with seven of them filed over narcotics trade, with different police stations in Mymensingh, the OC said. 

Two policemen -- Motiul Islam, 40, and Shafiqul Islam, 33 -- were injured during the incident and are receiving treatment at Mymensingh Police Lines Hospital, the DB official said.

A case was lodged with Kotwali Police Station in this connection.