Three men, described as drug peddlers by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), were killed in an alleged shootout in Teknaf upazila on Sunday (Jun 16).

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, at the Paharidhala area of Shamlapur in Baharchhara union.

Rab-15 Teknaf camp commander Lieutenant Md Mirza Shahed Mahtab confirmed the incident to Bangla Tribune.

The men were identified as Dil Mohammad, 42, son of Sultan, and Rashedul Islam, 24, son of Mohammad Yunus, and Shahidul Islam, 40, son of Abul Kashem.

Dil and Rashedul were residents of Cox’s Bazar while Shahidul hailed from Chattogram.

RAB has also demanded that two of their members, constable Md Sohel, 28, and Md Jahangir, 32, were injured in the gunfight.

RAB-15 Teknaf camp In-Charge Lit Mirza Shahed Mahtab said: "Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB members went on a drug drive at Paharidhala area of Shamlapur in Baharchhara union, when, understanding their presence, the drug traders fired at them, prompting the gunfight."

Three of the injured drug traders were admitted to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex, where the duty doctor, Shankar Chandra Debnath, declared them dead.

Meanwhile, the injured RAB members were soon released after receiving primary treatment, Shankar said.

The bodies of the deceased have been sent to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy. They had been trading drugs for a while, and had three separate cases filed against them in Teknaf police station, RAB claimed.