3 killed in Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla ‘gunfights’

Three persons were killed in two separate incidents of gunfight with law enforcers in Cox’s Bazar and Cumilla early today.

Of them, two were killed in Cox’s Bazar while one was killed in Cumilla.

In Cox’s Bazar, two siblings, who were suspected murder accused, were killed in a reported gunfight with police at Hinla hill in Teknaf upazila.

The deceased were identified as Abdur Rahman, 28 and his brother Abdus Salam, 26. They were sons of Mahmudur Rahman of Hinla Paschim Shikdar Para area under the upazila, UNB reports. 

Police arrested the two criminals, who were wanted in several cases including that of murder, on Thursday, said ABS Doha, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Model Police Station.

Later, a team of police along with the criminals conducted a drive in Hinla Girls’ High School hill around 1:00am to recover arms, the OC said.

As soon as they appeared in the hill area, the cohorts of the criminals opened fire on police, prompting them to fire back which triggered the gun battle, Doha said.

At one stage, the two siblings were caught in the line of fire and sustained bullet injuries.

Later, they were taken to local hospital where doctors declared them dead.

Police recovered two firearms, seven cartridges, 12 shells of bullets and four sharp weapons from the spot.

The two brothers were accused in a case filed over the murder of Ismail, 25, a resident of Paschim Pankhali, who was killed on June 21. Besides, they were also accused in another murder case filed over the killing of one Ibrahim, the OC added.

In Cumilla, an alleged drug peddler was killed in a reported gunfight with the members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Cumilla Sadar upazila early today.

The deceased was identified as Proshanto Kumar, 28, son Badol Kumar Das, a resident of Puraton Chowdhury Para area of Cumilla town, our local correspondent reports.

Lt Col Abu Mohammad Mohiuddin, commanding officer (CO) of Rangpur BGB Battalion 10, told at a press briefing today that Proshanto was detained from Mogoltuli area yesterday afternoon.

On primary interrogation, he admitted that a consignment of drugs would enter the town at night, the BGB official said.

Based on his information, the BGB men conducted a raid in Bibirbazar area around 1:00am.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, his cohorts opened fire on the BGB team prompting a retaliation that triggered the “gun battle”, the BGB CO said.

At one stage, Proshanto was caught in the line of fire and sustained bullet wounds. He was taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital where he was declared dead.

A total of 4,325 pieces of yaba pills and 30 bottles of Phensedyl were recovered from the scene, the BGB official added.

Family members, neighbours, and local ward councillor said that Proshanto was not involved with any drug dealing activities. Mixed reactions were seen among locals over the allegations of drug dealing against him.