An alleged pirate has been killed in Cox’s Bazar’s Pekua Upazila in what the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) described as shootout.
The incident was reported from the upazila’s Mognama area around 4.30am on Wednesday (Dec 5), said RAB.
The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Md Tareq, who RAB claimed a listed pirate.
“Acting on a tip-off, RAB conducted drives in the sea from the wee hours of Wednesday. A group of pirates led came at Mognama Ghat area with a fishing boat to collect ransom from the fishermen. Sensing the presence of the law enforcing men, the pirates opened fire, in self-defence RAB fired back which triggered the shootout,” RAB-7 company commander Major Mehedy Hasan.
“Later, Tareq’s bullet-hit body was found on the scene while his cohorts managed to flee. He was rushed to local upazila health complex where the doctor declared him dead,” added Mehedy Hasan.
“The body has been sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy,” said the elite force official.
RAB said that they have seized a pistol, two shooter guns, 23-round of ammunition and four rounds of empty bullet shells from the scene.