A drug peddler drowned into the Padma river during a gunfight between his cohorts and police in Rajshahi town early today, law enforcers said. 

Deceased Amin, 31, hailed from Harupur area of Poba upazila, was accused in a number of drug cases, reports our Rajshahi staff correspondent quoting police.

On information that a drug consignment would be exchanged on the bank of Padma in Kashiadanga, a team of police raided the area, Monsur Ali Arif, officer-in-charge of Kashiadanga Police Station, told The Daily Star.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the drug peddlers opened fire ensuing a “gunfight” around 3:00am, he said.

After the suspected drug peddlers managed to flee the scene, police recovered the floating body of Amin, the police official said.

He was taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead, he said.

Around 79 bottles of phensidyl, a shooter gun and two bullets were also recovered from the spot, he added.

Meanwhile, an alleged drug peddler was killed in a “gunfight”with detectives in Naryanganj.

Md Biplob, 31, son of Sultan Mia from Fatullapur viillage of Chandmari, was killed around 3:00am when a team of detective Branch of police was conducting an anti-narcotic drive in Chandmari area, Kamrul Hassan, a Sub-inspector (SI) of Narayanganj DB police, told our local correspondent.

Tipped off, the team of police went to Chandmari to conduct the drive. Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the miscreants opened fire forcing the police to retaliate, starting a “gunfight”, the SI said.

 At one stage, the gang members escaped from the spot leaving behind bullet-hit Biplob, he said.

He was rushed to Naryanganj General Hospital where doctors declared him dead, the SI added.

At least 14 drug related cases were filed against him and he was well-known as a “godfather of drugs” in the area, he said.

Police also recovered a shooter gun from the spot, the police official said adding that SI Osman, SI Sohel and constable Borhan and Nadim were also injured during the “gunfight”.