Listed drug peddler killed in ‘shootout’

An alleged drug peddler was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar early yesterday.

Dudu Mia, 46, was a resident of Najirpara village in the upazila and named in a list of narcos prepared by the home ministry, said Prodip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station.

Tipped off, a police team arrested Dudu from a location nearby his house on Friday night and conducted a raid in Moheshkhalipara area to recover a haul of hidden yaba pills and firearms taking him along with them, said the OC.

As soon as the police team reached the spot, cohorts of Dudu opened fire on them, forcing them to retaliate which triggered a “shootout”, the OC added.

Dudu was caught in the line of fire when he tried to flee from police custody, he added.

He was taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, Prodip said.

Later, police recovered five locally made firearms, 13 bullets and 4000 yaba from the spot.

Two cases were filed in this connection.