Two suspected drug dealers were killed in reported gunfights with police in Atrai and Patnitala upazilas of Naogaon district early Thursday.
The deceased drug dealers were identified as Minhajul Islam alias Mintu alias Shikdar, 40, and Zahidul Islam, 38.
Minhajul Islam is a member of banned extremist outfit Sarbahara Party and Zahidul Islam is a listed drug dealer, said police sources.
Atrai Police Station OC Moselm Uddin said they arrested Minhajul on Wednesday night, as he was wanted in 10 cases including that of murder. Later, police took him with them to recover firearms at Tilabaduri village that night.
“As soon as police reached the spot, Minhajul’s cohorts opened fire and he was killed during the skirmish,” the OC added.
Police said they recovered a foreign pistol, four bullets and locally made explosives from the spot.
In a separate incident in Patnitala upazila, police took Zahidul to Bakrail village to recover drugs on Wednesday night after interrogating him.
“When police reached the spot, Zahidul’s associates opened fire and he was killed in the ensuing gunfight,” said Patnitala Police Station OC Parimal Kumar Chakrabarty.
Zahidul was wanted in 12 criminal cases, added the OC.
A shutter gun, two bullets, 985 Yaba pills and four sharp weapons were recovered from the spot.
Naogaon Superintendent of Police Abdul Mannan [BPM] said these drives were made as part of regular police activities to recover drugs and arms.