8 more killed in ‘gunfights’

At least eight more suspected drug peddlers were killed as the list of “gunfights” grows longer; taking the tally of deaths to 50 so far in the last 10 days.

Our correspondents and agencies report, the so-called gunfights, all having almost identical descriptions, took place in Feni, Comilla, Magura, Brahmanbaria and Narayanganj in the post-midnight hours.

In Feni’s Fulgazi, Monir Hossain, 32, and and Shahmiran, 30, were killed in Munshirhat union near the Indian border. 200 bottles of phensydil and 700 yaba tablets were seized from them, according to police sources.

In Comilla, Babul alias Lamba Babul, 35, and, Rajib, 26, were killed in separate “gunfights” with police early today, reports UNB quoting police sources.

Babul, from Chouddagram upazila, was wanted in five cases, and Rajib, from Sadar Dakkhin Upazila, had 13 cases against him.

In Narayanganj, alleged drug peddler Selim, 36, an accused in 17 drugs-related cases, was killed in Siddhirganj upazila’s Dakkhin Nimaikashari area around 3:00am, said Abdus Sattar, officer-in-charge of Siddhirganj Police Station.

In Magura, two alleged drug-peddlers Ayub Sheikh and Mizanur Rahman were found dead in Parnanduali Housing Project in the district town.

Chhoyer Uddin, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) of Magura Sadar circle, said they were killed in a gunfight between two rival groups of drug peddlers. Ayub had 21 cases against him and Mizanur had 18.

In Brahmanbaria, Amir Kha, 40, an alleged drug-peddler and murder accused, was killed in Akhaura upazila, said Musarraf Hossain Tarafder, officer-in-charge of Akhaura Police Station.

Three police officials were also injured during the incident, he said. The deceased stood accused in 12 cases involving murder and drugs.