8 die in anti-narcotics crackdown

FT ONLINE

Amid an anti-narcotics crackdown, eight suspected drug traders were killed in separate ‘gunfights’ with law enforcers in Chuadanga, Rajshahi, Narsingdi, Jhenidah, Tangail and Jashore districts early Monday.

Of them, two died in Jashore while one each, in five other districts.

With the latest ones, a total of 28 people were killed in ‘gunfights’ across the country since May 12.

In Chuadanga, listed drug dealer Jonab Ali, 32, son of Jamat Ali, a resident of Uthali village in Jibannagar upazila was killed in a reported gunfight with police around 12:45 a.m.

Mahmud Hossain, officer-in-charge of Jibannagar police station, confirmed this.

According to him, 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.

At one stage, the ganger members fled the scene.

Later, the patrol police found the body of Jonab, a short-gun, two cartridges, three machetes and a sack of Phensidyl on the scene and recovered those.

Three police members - Sub-inspector Milon and two constables Walid Rahman and Jewel Hossain - also were injured in the gunfight.

In Rahshahi, listed drug trader Liakat Ali Mandal, 40, who was accused in seven drug cases was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion in Khurdo Jamira area under Belpukur thana of the city at around 12:30 a.m. He hailed from Namajgram village in Puthia upazila,

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, prompting them to retaliate and thus triggering the gunfight.

Liakat received bullets when he tried to flee the scene riding on a motorcycle and died on the spot.

Later, the elite force recovered 823 pieces of Yaba tablets, one foreign pistol with two round bullets, and the motorcycle.

In Narsingdi, listed drug trader Iman Ali was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion in Ghorashal toll plaza area of Palash upazila at around 4 a.m. He was a resident of Kauria para of the district town.

Company Commander Jasim Uddin confirmed the incident, adding that two RAB members were also injured during the gunfight.

In Jhenidah, suspected drug trader Mohammad Sabdul Islam, 45, son of late Mohammad Ali, was killed in a reported gunfight with RAB at around 1:30 a.m.

RAB sources said that a team of elite force set up a checkpost in the area as part of regular patrol.

They signalled a motorcycle while it was passing by the checkpost.

Ignoring the signal, the rider opened fire on the elite force, prompting them to retaliate and thus triggering the gunfight, which left Sabdul dead on the spot.

They also recovered one pistol, two bullets, one magzine, 100 bottles of Phensidyl and Tk 1100 in cash.

In Tangail, suspected drug trader Abul Kalam Azad Khan, 42, son of late Abdur Rahman Khan, a resident of Purbo Pakutia of Ghatail upazila, was killed in a so-called gunfight with members of Rapid Action battalion in a brick field area of Deula Bari at around 12 a.m. He was accused in five drugs cases.

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 Jashore, police recovered three bullet-hit bodies of suspected drug traders from Kholadanga and Taraf Noapara area at around 2 a.m.

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.