As the nationwide drive against drugs continues, nine suspected drug traders were killed in 'gunfights' with law enforcers in Chuadanga, Rajshahi, Narsingdi, Jhenidah, Tangail, Jashore and Gazipur districts early yesterday, reports UNB. According to reports reaching the UNB news desk, 29 people were killed in 'gunfights' across the country since May 12, including those died yesterday. In Jashore, police recovered three bullet-hit bodies of suspected drug traders from Kholadanga and Taraf Noapara area around 2am. AKM Azmal Huda, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said the drug traders were killed in separate gunfights between two groups of drug traders.
Police also recovered arms, Phensidyl and Yaba from the spots. In Chuadanga, Jonab Ali, 32, son of Jamat Ali, a resident of Uthali village in Jibannagar upazila and a listed drug trader was killed in a reported gunfight with police around 12:45am.
Mahmud Hossain, officer-in-charge of Jibannagar Police Station, said when a patrol team of police reached an area adjacent to a field, a gang of drug traders numbering 10-12 opened fire on police, prompting them to retaliate, triggering the gunfight. When the gang members fled the scene, they recovered the body of Jonab from the spot.
Sub-inspector Milon, two constables - Walid Rahman and Jewel Hossain -- were also injured in the gunfight. Police recovered a short-gun, two cartridges, three machetes and a sack of Phensidyl from the spot.
In Rahshahi, 'listed drug trader' Liakat Ali Mandal, 40, accused in seven drug cases and hailing from Namajgram village in Puthiaupazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Khurdo Jamira area under Belpukur thana of the city around 12:30am.
Major Asraful Islam, deputy commanding officer of Rab-5, said a gang of drug traders attacked a patrol team of Rab and opened fire on them, forcing them to retaliate which sparked off the gunfight.
Liakat suffered bullet wounds when he tried to flee the scene riding a motorcycle and died on the spot. Later, the elite force recovered 823 pieces of Yaba tablets, a foreign pistol with two round bullets and the motorcycle.
In Narsingdi, a ‘wanted drug trader’, Iman Ali, a resident of Kauriapara of the district town and also accused in nine drug cases, was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion at Ghorashal toll plaza in Palashupazila around 4am. Company Commander Jasim Uddin confirmed the incident adding that two Rab members were also injured.
In Jhenidah, suspected drug trader Mohammad Sabdul Islam, 45, son of late Mohammad Ali, was killed in a reported gunfight with Rab around 1:30am.
Rab sources said a team of elite force set up a checkpost in the area as part of regular patrol. They signaled a motorcycle while it was passing by the checkpost.
Ignoring the signal, the rider opened fire on the elite force, prompting them to retaliate that triggered the gunfight. Sabdul caught in line of fire and died on the spot. The law enforcers recovered one pistol, two bullets, 1 magazine, 100 bottles of Phensidyl and cash Tk 1100.
In Tangail, suspected drug trader Abul Kalam Azad Khan, 42, son of late Abdur Rahman Khan of Purbo Pakutia of Ghatailupazila, and also an accused in five cases, was killed in a so-called gunfight with members of Rapid Action battalion in a brick field in Deula Bari around 12am.
The elite force recovered one foreign pistol, three bullets, one magazine, 100 bottles of Phensidyl and 1500 pieces of Yaba tablets from the spot, said Rabiul Alam, commander of CPC-3 of Rab-12. Besides, assistant sub-inspector Hamidul Islam and Nayek Anisur Rahman were injured in the gunfight.
In Gazipur, suspected drug trader Rezaul Islam alias Besoti Rony, son of Hafizul Islam of Ershadnagar area of Tongi, and also an accused in 15 cases, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Tongi around 3am. Kamal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Tongi Model Police Station, said a team of police a conducted drive in the area following a tip-off. Sensing the presence of law enforcers, the drug traders opened fire on them, forcing them to retaliate, triggering the gunfight. Rony was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot.