Ten more killed in anti-narcotic drive

Ten more ‘drug peddlers’ have been killed in separate reported gunfights in eight districts in the early hours on Tuesday. This takes the tally of alleged drug peddlers dying in “gunfights” to 33 in the last eight days,

According to our local correspondents, fresh incidents of “gunfights” took place overnight through Cumilla,Nilphamari, Feni, Chuadanga, Narayanganj, Chittagong, Brahmanbaria and Netrokona.

In Cumilla, two suspected drug traders-Peyar Ali, 24, and Sharif, 26 -- were killed in a reported gunfight with a joint team of law enforcers in Aranyapur area of Sadar upazila around 12:40am. Being tipped off, a joint team of police and Detective Branch of police led by additional police superintendent Tanvir Salehin Sumon conducted drive in the area.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, a gang of drug traders opened fire on them, forcing them to retaliate which sparked off the gunfight, said Abu Salam Mia, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station.

After the gunfight, the team recovered the bodies and 400 bottles of Phensidyl, 50 kg hemp, a pistol with two round bullets and a pajero jeep. Four policemen were also injured in the ‘gunfight’, police said.

In Nilphamari, two suspected drug traders Shahin, 28, son of Abdul Hannan, and Jalil, 32, son of Yusuf, residents of Nichu Colony in Saidpur municipality area were killed in a reported gunfight with police in Badhyabhumi area early in the morning.

Golam Pasha, officer-in-charge of Saidpur police station, said a team of police in a drive arrested Shahin and Jalil at night. Later, they conducted another drive along with the duo to arrest other drug traders.

When the team reached the area, cohorts of Shahin and Jalil opened fire on the law enforcers, prompting them to gun back, triggering the gunfight which left the duo dead on the spot.

In Chattogram, listed drug trader Shukkur Ali, 45, was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Debarpara area under Bayazid police station around 2:30am.

Assistant superintendent of police Mimtanur Rahman of Rab-7 said that being tipped off, a team of Rab conducted a drive in the area. Sensing presence of the elite force, a gang of drug traders opened fire on them, prompting them to retaliate, triggering the gun battle, which left Shukkur, accused in 10 cases, dead on the spot.

The team also recovered 10 thousand Yaba tablets, a shooter gun and huge amount of hemp from the spot.

In Chuadanga, listed drug trader Kamruzzaman Sadu, 38, son of late Emdadul Haque of Hardi village in Alamdanga upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with police near Alamdanga Police Station around 1:30am.

Abu Zihad Fakhrul Alam Khan, officer-in-charge of Alamdanga Police station, said that being informed that a gang of drug traders were staying in the area, a police team conducted a drive in the area.

Sensing the presence of police, the gang opened fire on them, prompting them to retaliate, triggering the gun battle.

After half an hour of the ‘gunfight’, the law enforcers recovered the bullet-hit body of Sadu, accused in 12 cases, from the spot along with a pistol, three round bullets and a sack of Phensidyl.

Meanwhile, four policemen were also injured during the ‘gun battle’, police said.

In Feni, listed drug trader Mohammad Manzurul Alam Manju, 49, was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rab in Lemua area of sadar upazila early in the morning.

Squadron Leader Safayet Zamil Fahim of Rab-7 said the gunfight took place when they conducted drive in the area based on secret information.

After the gunfight, they recovered the body of Manju from the spot along with 10,000 pieces of Yaba tablets, 1 foreign pistol, seven round bullets and five bullet shells, he said.

Earlier, the police arrested Manju in 2015 with 5 lakh Yaba tablets. Manju was accused in several cases file with different police station in Feni and Chattogram.

In Dinajpur, the notorious drug trader of the district Probal Hossain was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Bhabanipur area of Birampur upazila around 2:30am.

Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Birampur police station, said they recovered 92 bottles of phensidyl, and a revolver along with three round bullets from the spot.

In Narayanganj, a suspected drug trader Bachhu Khan was killed in a reported gunfight with RAB in Shimultoli area of Araihazar upazila early in the morning.

In Brahmanbaria, Dhon Mia, 35, son of a certain Hossain Mia of Morichakandi village in Bancharampur, was killed in a reported gunfight with RAB-11 members in Sonarampur area early in the morning.

The team also detained his wife Arjina Begum and recovered 11,700 pieces of Yaba tablets, TK 48,700 in cash, a pistol and a car.