Anti-Drug Drive: One killed, two injured in 'shootout'

A suspected drug peddler was killed and two others were injured in separate incidents of reported gunfights in Narail, Rajshahi and Lalmonirhat yesterday.

In Narail, Golam Mostafa, 48, an alleged drug peddler, was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Laskarpur-Chandmari area.

Receiving information about a gang of drug peddlers gathering at the area, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police, along with members of Narail Sadar Police Station, conducted a raid there at around 3:30am, claimed Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of the station.

Sensing the presence of law enforcers, the gang opened fire on the policemen, prompting them to retaliate, ultimately leading to a gunfight, reports our Jhenidah correspondent quoting police.

Later, police recovered the bullet hit body of Mostafa and took him to Narail Hospital, where the on-duty doctors declared him dead. Police also claimed to have recovered a pipe gun, two bullets and 50 yaba pills from the spot. 

OC Anwar alleged that Mostafa was an active drug peddler.

He added that four police officials -- SI Minto Hossain, DB SI Abdur Rahman, Mostafa Jamal and Constable Nahid Hossain -- were injured in the gunfight.

In Rajshahi, Abdul Malek, 48, another suspected drug peddler, was injured after being shot by police in Charghat upazila early yesterday.

The incident occurred at around 2:30am, when a team of DB police challenged a group of suspected drugs peddlers at Joypur-Yousufpur road at Muktarpur area of the upazila, reports our Rajshahi correspondent quoting police.

When police stopped the alleged drug peddlers, they attacked the law enforcers with machetes. Police opened fire in retaliation, said Ataur Rahman, OC of DB of Rajshahi district police.

While Manik lay injured on the ground, the others managed to flee. Police took Manik to Charghat Health Complex and he was later shifted to RMCH. Police seized 120 bottles of Phensidyl and three machetes from the spot.

Police said Malek was accused in ten drugs related cases filed with Charghat Police Station.

In Lalmonirhat, Zahurul Islam, 45, another suspected drug peddler, was injured from gunshots in Kadamtola Bridge area of Chandrapur union at Kaliganj upazila in Lalmonirhat on Friday night.

Based on information that four to five drug smugglers were transporting contraband drugs in Kadamtola Bridge, a police team raided the area.  When the alleged smugglers tried to flee, police opened fire on them. Zahurul sustained bullet injuries in his leg.

Police arrested him and sent him to the upazila health complex where he is undergoing treatment, reports our Lalmonirhat correspondent quoting police. 

Police seized five kilograms of marijuana and 55 yaba pills from Zahurul's possessions, claimed Maqbul Hossain, OC of Kaliganj Police Station.

Zahurul was accused in six drug cases with the police station, the OC added.

With the latest additions, at least 167 suspected drug peddlers have been killed since the anti-narcotics drive began on May 4. Most of the dead were killed in “shootouts” with police and Rapid Action Battalion.