3 ‘human traffickers’ killed in Cox’s Bazar ‘gunfight’ with cops

Three alleged human traffickers were killed in a reported gunfight with police in Teknaf upazila early Tuesday.

The deceased were identified as Kurban Ali, 30, son of Abdus Shukkur of Noyapara Golapara in the upazila, Abdul Quader, 25, son of Ali Hossain, and Abdur Rahman, 30, son of Sultan Ahmed of KK Para in Teknaf municipality.

Officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station Pradip Kumar Das said a team of police conducted a drive at Maheskhaliapara Noughat in the early hours to arrest accused in a case filed over the trafficking of 15 Rohingyas.

Sensing the presence of police, armed human traffickers opened fire on them forcing law enforcers to fire back in self-defence which triggered a gun battle, he said.

Police found the trio lying on the ground with bullet wounds after the gunfight and took them to Sadar Hospital where doctors declared them dead, the OC said, claiming that three policemen were also injured in the incident.

Police recovered two guns from the spot, he said.

Injured policemen –- assistant sub-inspector Sayef, and constables Mong and M Shukkur -- were taken to Teknaf Health Complex.