5 killed in 'gunfights'

Four drug traders and a robber were killed in “gunfights” with law enforcers in four districts in the last two days, said officials.

In Mymensingh, an alleged robber was killed in a “shootout” with detectives in Nayanpur of Bhaluka upazila early yesterday.

Shah Kamal Akanda, officer-in-charge of Detective Branch of police in Mymensingh, said Mobarak Hossain, 35, of Nayanpur, stood accused in 10 cases, including robbery and drug, filed with different police stations in Mymensingh and Gazipur.

The OC said detectives arrested Mobarak on Wednesday evening. Based on his information, police took him to Nayanpur to recover firearms around 1:00am.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, his cohorts opened fire. The policemen returned fire, triggering the “gunfight”. Mobarak was hit by bullets when he tried to flee, the police official claimed.

He was rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

A case was filed with Bhaluka Model Police Station.

In Cox's Bazar, two suspected yaba traders died in a similar incident at Hariakhali Tourist Zone of Teknaf upazila around 2:30am on Wednesday.

They are Nozir Ahmed Prakash alias Nozir “Dakat”, 38, of Sabrang in the upazila; and Abdul Amin, 35, Nayapara of the same upazila. They were accused in several drug and robbery cases, police said.

Pradip Kumar Das, OC of Teknaf Police Station, said they arrested Nozir in Sabrang area on Tuesday night.

After gleaning information from Nozir, police brought him to Hariakhali to recover drugs. His associates, who were waiting there, fired bullets on them, forcing the policemen to retaliate, the OC claimed.

After the “gun battle” was over, police found Nozir and Amin bullet-hit.

They were taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared them dead, said the OC.

Police claimed to have recovered four locally-made firearms, 21 bullets, and 10,150 yaba pills from the scene.

In another “gunfight” with Rab in Sylhet, a “yaba trader”, Shahidul Islam alias Shahid Miah, 40, of Telibazar Ahamedpur village in South Surma upazila, was killed at Moglabazar around 3:30am on Wednesday.

The incident happened when Rab men raided the spot on information that some drug traders were holding a secret meeting there, said Main Uddin Chowdhury, assistant director of Rab-9.

Shahid was declared dead after being taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.

His name is on the list of yaba traders prepared by the home ministry and he was accused in eight drug cases, said Main, who is also an additional superintendent of police.

In Munshiganj, an alleged drug trader died in a “shootout” with the elite force in Tongibari upazila on the same day.

The victim, Abul Hossain Sheikh, 49, of the upazila, stood accused in 18 drug cases, said Maj Ashik Billal, deputy commander of Rab-11. 

He added that a Rab patrol team raided Deulbari village to detain Abul and his cohorts who were holding a secret meeting beside Tongibari main road around 1:00am.

The “gunfight” took place when the gang opened fire on the Rab team.

Some 437 people fell victim to extrajudicial killings by law enforcers across the country till October this year, according to rights body Ain o Salish Kendra.

Our correspondents in Mymensingh, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, and Munshiganj contributed to this report.