Police have arrested three people in connection with a shooting in the capital’s Gandaria area, stemming from a dispute over control of drug trade.
The three accused were produced before the court, while police launched a special drive to arrest others involved in the incident.
A team of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) visited the scene around 9:30am on Monday and collected evidence. CID Inspector Saifur Rahman said, “We visited the scene and collected some evidence.”
According to a police source, Ward-40 BNP member Monir Hossain and his nephew Russell allegedly beat up associates of drug dealer and armed criminal “Auto Sojol” over control of drug trade.
Police also said that Monir opened fire indiscriminately with an illegal pistol.
Gandaria police station Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman Khan told Dhaka Tribune on Monday that police recovered 20 spent cartridge cases from the scene.
Police also collected CCTV footage from the area, although the shooting itself was not captured. The footage, however, showed an attack on a house, the OC said. “Different units of law enforcement agencies are working to arrest those involved, and the drive is continuing,” he said.
No one had yet filed a case at the police station over the incident, Moniruzzaman said. “If no one comes forward, we will lodge a complaint,” he added.
Locals allege rampant drug trade
Residents said drug trading has spread extensively across Swamibagh, Koratitola and Munsirtek areas of Gandaria. They said disputes over drugs are frequent and that drug users are involved in crimes, including snatching.
Local resident Abdul Al Momen alleged that drugs are openly bought and sold along roads and in alleys in the area. “Drug traders are very active in this area and have made a lot of money. We believe police can do everything if they want to,” he said.
A local businessman said around 20 to 25 people suddenly arrived in the area about 8pm, many of them carrying firearms. “They told shopkeepers to close their shops and then started shooting indiscriminately,” he said.
On Sunday evening, several locals detained three young men—Md Rakib, 22, Md Billal, 25, and Md Rifat, 21—in Koratitola area near the railway line while they were allegedly selling drugs.
They were later taken to the office of local BNP activist Md Monir Hossain, where they were allegedly beaten. Later, the three were handed over to the police.
The shooting took place in a lane beside Swamibagh Munsirtek Jame Mosque near the railway line, locals said. Three people were injured in the shooting: tea-stall owner Alamgir, 33, Asha Akter, 20, and Siyam, 18.
Asha was standing in front of her house when she was hit by a bullet, while Siyam, an employee at a food shop, was shot while closing the shop’s shutter. Dhaka Metropolitan BNP (South) member Omar Nabi Babu was hacked and seriously injured in the incident.
