3 killed in ‘gunfight’ with law enforcers

Three people, including two Rohingyas, were killed in separate “gunfights” with law enforcers in Cox’s Bazar and Faridpur districts early yesterday.

In Cox’s Bazar, two Rohingya men, suspected of being drug dealers, were killed in an alleged gunfight with Rab on the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive road.

The dead were identified as Abul Hasim, 30, and Mohammad Ayub, 24, both residents of Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Ukhiya, reports our Cox’s Bazar correspondent. 

Md Shah Alam, assistant superintendent of police (ASP), also the in-charge of CPC-2 Hoaikyang Camp of Rab-15, said a Rab team conducted a drive in Shamlapur area on the marine drive road after a tip-off that a large amount of yaba was being smuggled.

As soon as the Rab team reached the spot, the criminals opened fire, which led to a gunfight, he claimed.

“Hasim and Ayub suffered bullet wounds in the gunfight,” he said, adding that the two were taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared them dead.

Three Rab officials were also injured in the gunfight, the ASP claimed, adding that they recovered 10,000 yaba pills, two locally-made guns and five bullets from the spot. 

A case will be filed in this regard, Alam said. 

Meanwhile in Faridpur, Enayet Ullah, 40, was killed in a “gunfight” between police and his armed cohorts in Boalmari upazila. 

The victim’s family members, however, claimed he was picked up by police four days ago from Magura, reports our Faridpur correspondent. 

Aminul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Boalmari police station said, “police arrested Enayet from Shilkupa upazila’s Hatfajilpur bazar area in Jhenaidah around 8:45pm on Tuesday and brought him to our station.” 

Based on information given by Enayet, police later conducted a drive in Boalmari upazila’s Barankula village with him to recover hidden firearms around 2:30am, the OC said. 

He added that as they reached there, Enayet’s cohorts opened fire on the law enforcers, after which a gunfight ensued. 

Enayet suffered bullet wounds and was taken to Boalmari Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him death, said OC Aminul. 

Police said that Enayet was wanted in 13 cases filed on charges of robbery, murder and theft with Bolamari, Kashiyani and Magura Sadar police stations. 

They claimed to have recovered a gun, two bullets and some local weapons from the spot. 

After the gunfight, Tania Mithu, niece of Enayet, claimed that police picked her uncle up from Magura four days ago and since then, the family could not trace his whereabouts.