A drug trader was reportedly killed in a gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Bisic area near the Laukathi Riverbank of Patuakhali district town early yesterday.
Dead Toriqul Islam Taru, 30, was listed criminal and drug trader accused in at least 28 criminal cases, said Major Adnan Kabir, deputy director of RAB-8 headquarters, Barisal.
He said a gang of miscreants opened fire on a patrol car of the elite forces in the area in the morning, forcing them to fire back that triggered a gun battle.
Later, they rescued bullet-injured Toru from the spot and took him to Patuakhali Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
RAB claimed to have recovered two pistols, two locally-made light guns, 20 bullets and over 600 bottles of contraband phensidyl from the spot.
Taru’s family alleged that he was missing since July 17 and RAB cooked up the gunfight story after picking him up.
However, RAB refuted the allegation.
“My husband was shot dead. There was no gunfight,” said Rekha Begum, wife of the deceased.
High officials of law enforcing agencies, administration and local people went to the hospital to identify the victim.
S M Tariqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Patuakhali Sadar police station confirmed the incident.