Three suspected drug peddlers have been killed in separate incidents of “gunfights” across three districts in the early hours of Friday.
So far, about 140 people, mostly alleged drug dealers, have been killed and scores of others arrested since the drives began a month ago.
In Thakurgaon, suspected drug peddler Shamim Hossain, 42, was killed in a “gunfight” with police in the Nekmord area of Ranisankail Upazila. Shamim was the son of late Abdul Sattar.
Two policemen were also injured in the incident, which took place around 1:30am.
Ranisankail police station Officer-in-Charge (OC), Abdul Mannan, said: “Acting on a tip-off, a patrol team conducted a raid in the Bhadreshwari area.”
“Sensing police presence, a gang of drug peddlers started shooting, forcing law enforcement to retaliate. Shamim was killed on the spot in the ensuing gunfight.”
Police later sent the body to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital morgue.
The OC said 300 pieces of Yaba tablets were seized from the scene. Shamim was accused in a number of cases in the Ranisankail police station.
In Dinajpur, a suspected drug peddler was killed in a “gunfight” between two groups of drug dealers in the Kharipara area of Uthrail Union in the early hours of Friday.
Dinajpur Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) told the Dhaka Tribune: “On a tip off, police visited the scene of a gunfight that occurred between two groups of drug dealers. We found one bullet-riddled body on the scene.”
Police also seized 100 bottles of the banned drug Phensedyl, one locally made gun, and a heavy cleaver.
The suspect’s body has been sent to the Dinajpur M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital Morgue. The identity of the deceased could not be confirmed at the filing of this report.
In Rangpur, a suspected drug dealer by the name of Abu Musa, 27, has been killed in a “gunfight” with police in the Kukrul area of the city, early Friday morning.
Rangpur Additional Superintendent of Police, Saiful Islam, confirmed the matter to the correspondent.
According to police sources, law enforcement conducted a drive in the Kukrul area, on a tip off that a gang of drug peddlers had gathered there.
As a police team reached the spot, the suspected drug dealers started shooting at them, triggering a reported gunfight. Abu Musa, alias Bishkhali, died in the incident.
Police found 102 Yaba tablets, 47 bottles of Phensedyl, and a pistol at the scene.
The deceased was the son of Abdul Kuddus, and he hailed from the Hunumantola area of Rangpur. He was accused in 11 cases, said the police.
Musa’s body has been sent to the Rangpur Medical College Hospital morgue.
