Staff Reporter :
At least three persons, including a former ward councillor were killed in ‘gunfights’ in Habiganj, Feni and Netrokona districts on Monday.
The deceased have been identified as Yunus Miah, 40, a former councillor of Ward No. 9 in Chunarughat Municipality in Habiganj, Anwar Hossain Raju, 25, from Feni, and Lutfor Rahman alias Ripul, 40, in Netrokona, law enforcers said.
In Habiganj, “Yunus and three to four others were taking Yaba in Magurunda village at Paikpara Union in Chunarughat upazila at midnight. We went to the area to arrest the drug traffickers. Sensing presence of police, the drug traders attacked the law enforcers with sharp weapons, forcing them to retaliate that triggered the shootout,” said Chunarughat Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Azmiruzzaman.
Later, he was rushed to Chunarughat Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, he said.
Police said that, Yunus had long been involved with Yaba trading.
Meanwhile, another gunfight ensued when the drug peddlers opened fire at a team of RAB personnel which was conducting a raid in Dharmapur area, Operation Officer of RAB-7 said.
Anwar Hossain was a notorious drug peddler who is accused in 10 cases including robbery, rape and arms cases, he said.
The team of the elite force recovered five local and foreign firearms and ammunition from the spot, he added.
In Netrokona, “Ripul was arrested on Sunday afternoon and they launched a drive at night with Ripul at Noapara to recover the illegal arms. During the drive, Ripul’s accomplices fired gunshots on police, while police also retaliated, triggering the gunfight, said Mohanganj Police Station OC Ansari Jinnat Ali.
Ripul sustained bullet wound during the exchange of fire and was rushed to Mohanganj Health Complex where on-duty doctors declared him dead, he said.
Three cops were also injured during the gunfight, the OC said.
