Alleged drug peddler killed in 'shootout'

Rab said a drug peddler was killed in a “gunfight” with its patrol team in Baraigram upazila early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Sirajul Islam, 38, son of Abdus Sattar of Balia village in Baraigram.

Including him, at least 228 people have been killed since the anti-narcotics drive began on May 4. Most of them were killed in so-called gunfights involving police and Rab.

Rab company commander Azmal Hosen said a patrol team of the elite force noticed some suspicious people near Katashkol Sugarcane Centre and asked them to surrender around 1:30am.

But they opened fire on the Rab team, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate that resulted in a “gunfight”.

At one stage, the attackers retreated and Rab found bullet-hit Sirajul lying on the ground. They rushed him to Baraigram Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead.

Officers recovered a pistol, a bullet, a magazine, 530 pieces of yaba, and Tk 3,205 from the spot, he claimed.