2 ‘drug peddlers’ killed in gunfights in 2 dists

Two alleged drug peddlers were killed in separate ‘gunfight’ Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Rajshahi and Munshiganj early Sunday.

In Rajshahi, an unidentified man was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion in Nabadanga area of the city around 12:30am.

Major A M Ashraful Islam, deputy commanding officer of RAB-5, said that a patrol team of the elite force spotted a torch beam at a banana orchard. When the team reached there, a gang of criminals opened fire on them, forcing them to fire back, triggering the gunfight which left the unidentified man injured with bullets.

Later, the injured was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

The elite force recovered a magazine, two rounds of bullet along with a pistol and 38 bottles of Phensidyl.

In Munshiganj, Md Sohrab Hossain, son of Yunus Bepari of Rudrapara village in Ragra union of Srinagar upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with the RAB members.

Being informed that a gang of criminals was staying in the area, a team of the elite force conducted a drive in Chhatrobhog area around 4:30am, said assistant superintendent Mohitul Islam, company commander of RAB-11.

Sensing the presence of elite force, the gang members opened fire on them, prompting them to fire back, triggering the gunfight, leaving Sohrab dead on the spot.

Two RAB members were also injured and the elite force members recovered a foreign pistol, a bullet, 600 Yaba tablets and cash Tk 10,500, he added.

Sohrab Hossain was wanted in 13 cases including murder, arms, robbery and abduction, said the RAB official.