Five killed in separate ‘gunfights’

Five more people were killed early hours of Sunday As ‘gunfights’ between the law enforcers and suspected criminals. The victims of gunfights are four suspected drug peddlers and a robber.

They were killed in separate 'gunfights' with law enforcers in Barishal, Feni, Mymensingh, Dinajpur and Jashore districts.

Four more persons were killed on Saturday and three others on Thursday and Friday - all said to be drug peddlers and in reported gunfights.

The home minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, said the government would show zero tolerance to the drug traffickers.

In Barishal, an unidentified member of a 'robber gang' was killed in a reported gunfight with a team of detectives at Bottola Bazar in Dakhshin Char Aicha village in sadar upazila.

Nurul Islam, PPM, officer-in-charge of Kaunia Police Station, said that being tipped off that a gang of robbers was taking preparation for committing robbery in the area, a team of detectives conducted a drive there around 3am.

When the team reached the spot, the gang members opened fire on them, prompting them to retaliate, triggering a gunfight, the police said.

At one stage, the robber gang fled the scene. Later, the law enforcers recovered the body from the spot.

The police also recovered a pipe gun, two sharp weapons and eight rounds of bullets from the spot, the OC added.

Besides, Sub-inspector Rafiq and two constables Rafiq and Hafiz were injured during the 'gunfight'.

In Feni, a suspected drug and arms trader was killed in a reported gunfight with the police in Pathan Nagar of Chhagalnaiya upazila early Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Alamgir Hossain Bhuiyan, son of late Abdus Salam Bhuiyan of Paschim Pathan Gor area.

Alamgir was accused in nine cases including that of drugs and arms filed with Chhagalnaiya Police Station, said M Morshed, officer-in-charge of the police station.

Acting on secret information that Alamgir was staying in an abandoned house in the village, a team of law enforcers conducted a drive there around 1am.

Sensing the presence of police, the drug traders opened fire on law enforcers, prompting them to retaliate, that triggered the gunfight.

After the gunfight, police found the bullet hit body of Alamgir there. Later, he was rushed to Feni Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

The police recovered one pistol, three round cartridges, 1000 pieces of Yaba tablets and 100 bottles of Phensidyl from the house.

In Mymensingh, a suspected drug trader was killed in a reported gunfight with the police at Gonshar intersection in the town around 2:30am.

The deceased was identified as Rajiul Hasan Biplob, 45, son of late Billal Hossain, and was accused in several cases.

Ashikur Rahman, officer-in-charge of district detective branch of the police, said that being tipped off, a team of detectives conducted drive in the area.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire on them, prompting the police to retaliate, triggering the gunfight that left Biplob bullet injured.

Later, Biplob was rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

In Dinajpur, suspected drug trader Galkata Babu, 45, son of late Ohab Ali of Teghora Narayanpur village, was killed in a reported gunfight with the police in Sardarpara area in Biral upazila early in the morning.

Babu was accused in nine cases filed with different the police station, said Abdul Majid, officer-in-charge of Biral police station.

Being tipped off, a team of police conducted a drive in the area. While a gang of drug traders numbering 7-8 was passing through the area, police obstructed them.

Being obstructed, they opened fire on policemen, prompting them to retaliate, triggering a gunfight that left Babu dead on the spot, the police said.

Two policemen were also injured during the 'gunfight', the OC said.

The police recovered four crude bombs, two pistols, two sharp weapons and 193 bottles of Phensidyl syrup from the spot.

In Jashore, suspected drug trader Dalim, 35, son of late Soharab Hossain, was killed in a reported gunfight with the police in Raghurampur village in the district town around 4am.

The police recovered 50 pieces of Yaba and a shooter gun from the spot.