Staff Reporter :
Eleven more alleged drug peddlers, including a municipal councillor, were killed in “gunfights” in 11 districts early Sunday amid anti-narcotic drives of law enforcers across the country.
A total 15 policemen were reportedly injured in the gunfights.
The tally of alleged illegal drug traders killed in “shootouts” stood at 93, and arrested 6700 in more than 5600 cases since the special force began the anti-drug drive on May 4, said Police Headquarters.
In Cox’s Bazar, suspected drug dealer Ekramul Haque, 46, also a councillor in Teknaf Municipality, was killed in a reported gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members.
Around 10,000 yaba tablets, a foreign pistol, a one shooter gun, six round bullets and five bullet shells were recovered from the spot, Ekramul was killed, RAB official said.
In Bagerhat, alleged drug peddler Mitul Biswas, 45, was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Chinguri-Mochondopur in Chitalmari upazila during the wee hours, said Anukul Bishwas, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chitalmari Police Station.
Biswas was accused in 22 cases, including nine drugs cases, the OC said.
Police recovered 100 yaba tablets, 2-kg hemp, a shutter gun and two rounds of bullets from the spot.
In Kushtia, Halim Mondol, 35, a listed firearms and yaba peddler, died on the spot as his cohorts exchanged bullets with police during a gunfight in Housing area in Kushtia town around 2:45am, said Nasir Uddin, OC of Kushtia Model Police Station.
Four policemen were injured in the incident. Police recovered one shutter gun, one pipe gun, 3 bullets and 800 pieces of yaba tablets.
In Meherpur, a top drug peddler, Hafizul Islam, 45, was killed in a “gunfight” with police at Garabaria filed at about 1:30am, said Harendranath Sarker, OC of Gangni Police Station,.
Islam was accused in 12 drug cases which were filed with Gangni Police Station, the OC said.
In Jhenidah, suspected drug peddler Ràfikul Islam alias Luton, 36, was killed in a “gunfight” between two groups of drug peddlers due to their internal feud on Jhenidah-Kushtia highway near Bordah-Jamalpur village around 1:00am, said Alamgir Hossain, OC of Shailakupa Police Station.
In Thakurgaon, Rafiqul Islam alias Taleban, 51, a suspected drug peddler, was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Nekmarad Durlavpur village of Ranishankoil upazila around 2:00am, our local correspondent reports quoting a press release issued by the district police.
In Chandpur, a suspected drug peddler Selim, 37, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Hazaridone area on Chandpur-Matlab road in Matlab Dakshin upazila around 2:45am, police said.
Doctors at Matlab Health Complex declared Selim dead after he was rushed there with bullet wounds, said Kutub Uddin, officer-in-charge of Matlab Dakshin Police Station.
In Khulna, listed drug peddler Abul Kalam was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Dighalia upazila around 3:00am, Rahman, additional police superintendent, told our local correspondent.
In Mymensingh, an alleged drug pddler, Sanjoy, 25, was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Bolashpur Morakhola area in Mymensingh town around 1:30am, said Khandaker Shaker Ahmed, OC (Investigation) of Kotwali Police Station.
Two police constables-Humayun and Amir Hamza injured in the firing were treated at Mymensingh Police Lines Hospital, he said.
Police claimed to have recovered 100 grams heroin, 100 pieces of yaba tablets, four used bullets, two sharp weapons from the spot.
In Chattogram, suspected drug peddler Md Rihan Prakash, 27, son of Maliul Haque of Golabaria area under Muradpur union in Sitakunda upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Guliakhali Sandwip ferry ghat around 12:45am, UNB adds. Rihan was accused in eight cases.
In Noakhali, a suspected drug trader Hasan Mia, son of Hanif Mia of Banoai village in Sonaimuri upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Bogadia area around 3:00am. He was accused in 11 cases, said AKM Zahirul Islam, Additional Superintendent of Police in the district.
Police recovered an LG gun, seven rounds of bullets and 120 pieces of yaba tablets from the spot, he added.
