'Drug dealer' killed in 'shootout'

A suspected drug trader was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar early yesterday, hours after he was picked up by the law enforcers.

The dead, Yasin Arafat, 25, was son of Abdul Jalil and a resident of Chowdhurypara area.

Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, said they detained Yasin from Teknaf town on Monday evening over his alleged involvement with various crimes, including yaba trade and attack on police.

“Based on his information, police conducted a drive in Mitha Panirchhara area around 2:00am to arrest his cohorts,” the OC added.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the miscreants opened fire, prompting police to retaliate that triggered a “shootout”, he said.

At one point, Yasin came in the line of fire and was rushed to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where duty doctors pronounced him dead, the OC said, adding that three policemen were also injured during the “gunfight”.

Police later claimed to have recovered 10,000 yaba pills, two locally made firearms and nine rounds of bullets from the spot.

The body was kept at Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital for an autopsy.

Two cases were filed with Teknaf Police Station in this connection, Pradip said.