Eight alleged drug peddlers were killed in ‘shootouts’ in six districts in a single day, raising the number of casualties to 14 in two days, amid growing concern of rights activists over human rights violation.
Of them, three were killed in Jashore while one each died in Chuadanga, Jhenidah, Tangail, Rajshahi and Narsingdi.
Earlier on Saturday, another six alleged drug dealers were also killed in same kind of ‘shootouts’.
Jashore
Three alleged ‘drug dealers’ were killed in the district in two separate clashes between groups of dealers on Monday, according to the local police.
“Acting on tip off that two group of drug peddlers have been locked into a gun battle in Mondolgati and Kholadanga area of the district town, police raided the area and found a body including firearms”, said the OC of Jessore Kotwali Model Police Station Ajmal Huda.
District police sources said that same incident happened at the village Torfonwapara where the two groups of alleged drug dealers engaged into a clash. Law enforcers reached the spot after the clash and recovered two bodies.
Police also recovered firearms and 400 pieces of Yaba pills beside the bodies.
The three bodies were taken to Jashore General Hospital at the wee hours of Monday, said OC Huda and sub-inspector Arun Kumar Das.
“The three bodies were brought dead at the hospital with bullet hits in the head”, said Kollol Kumar Saha, the duty doctor of the hospital.
Chuadanga
Janab Ali, 33, also an alleged drug trader was killed in a gunfight with police in the district.
The incident took place at Syannasitola field at Jibonnagar upazila on Monday, said officer-In-Charge (OC) of Jibonnagar police station Mahmud Rahman.
“Sensing presence of police the drug traders opened fire on them, and police also retaliated with bullets. Police found a body from the spot after the smugglers had run away”, the OC said.
Ali was charged with several allegations in connection with drug dealing, he alleged.
Law enforcers have also recovered narcotics, firearms and sharp weapons from the place.
Jhinadah
Another death was reported in Jhinaidah in a ‘gun battle’ with RAB on Monday.
The ‘gun-fight’ took place at Narendrapur village under Kaliganj Upazila around 2.00 am, said RAB company commander ASP Golam Morshed.
The victim was identified as Sobdul Isalm.
According to Morshed, two men on a motorbike opened fire at a petrol team of RAB in the area after they had been asked to stop.
RAB also fired in reply. The elite force found the body of Sobdul after the ‘shootout’, he added.
RAB seized firearm, 100 bottles of Phensidyl, 150 pieces of Yaba pills and Tk 1,100 cash from the crime scene.
Tangail
A suspected drug dealer, Abul Kalam Azad was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Two members of RAB were also injured during the battle, said RAB-12 company commander Major Robiul Islam.
He also said that a group of drug peddlers fired at a team of RAB when it raided a brickfield at Deulbari area at Ghatail Upazila.
RAB took Kalam to the Tangail government hospital with bullet hit injury after the fight where he was pronounced dead by the doctors.
RAB recovered a pistol, ammunition, 100 bottle Phensidyl and 1500 piece Yaba tablets from the spot.
Narshindi
Another ‘drug-peddler’ was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with members of RAB.
The incident occurred at Palash residential area under Ghorashal municipality around 11.30 pm on Sunday.