Two suspected drug peddlers have been killed in Cox’s Bazar in what the police described as shootout.

The incident was reported late on Monday (Sept 30) night from Shilkhali area in the district’s Teknaf Upazila, said police.

The deceased have been identified as 37-year-old Mohammad Amin and 21-year-old Helal Uddin, who police claims were drug peddlers.

“Based on the information of the two drug peddlers, police conducted a raid in the area late on Monday night. At one point, one of associates of the drug peddlers opened fire on police and tried to rob them from detention. Police had to fire back in self defence which triggered a shootout,” said Teknaf police OC Prodeep Kumar Das.

“The drug peddlers were caught in line of crossfiring while their associates managed to flee from the scene.  They were taken to Taknaf Upazila Health Complex and later transferred to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital where they succumbed to their injuries,” said OC Das.

“Two firearms, seven rounds of ammunition and 5,000 yaba tablets were seized from the scene,” said the OC.

Dr Titu Chandra Shil at Teknaf Upazila Health Complex said, “Police brought two bullet-hit persons to the hospital. One of them suffered two bullet wounds and the other had three.”

“The injured police members were released from the hospital after providing first aid,” added the doctor.

The bodies have been kept at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy.