Eight more ‘drug peddlers’ killed

Eight more suspected drug peddlers were killed in reported incidents of ‘gunfight’ in Rangpur, Kushtia, Comilla, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon and Jamalpur early Wednesday as law enforcement agencies continued crackdown on drugs. 
The incidents took to 42 the number of people killed in the ongoing anti-drug drives in the past nine days since May 15.
Different left-leaning political parties and rights activists demanded an end to the extrajudicial killings in the name of containing drug abuse, saying that the law enforcers had to gather adequate witnesses and evidences to ensure punishment for people involved in smuggling and peddling of drugs.
Democratic Left Alliance, a platform of eight left political parties, in a joint statement on Wednesday said that such killings contradicted rule of law, democracy and the constitution.
Rights organisation Naripokkho in a statement said that killing of people in anti-drug drives was not acceptable at all. ‘We welcome the anti-drug drives but are concerned over the killings of human beings one after another.’
New Age correspondent in Jamalpur, quoting district superintendent of police Delwar Hossain, reported that suspected drug peddler Mosharaf Hossain Bidyut, 39, of Bogabaid Boardghar Bazar area, on the outskirts of Jamalpur town, was killed in a ‘shootout’ by police at Chhankanda Madrassah Ghat under Jamalpur sadar upazila early Wednesday.
Delwar claimed that Mosharrof was wanted in 16 cases, including 15 under Narcotics Control Act, and police seized a pistol, three bullets, 100 grams of heroin and 1000 Yaba pills from the spot.
The deceased’s wife Shilpi Begum alleged that police killed her husband by staging a so-called gunfight. 
‘Three police officials including sub-inspector Mehedi Hasan had visited my house on three occasions since Monday afternoon to early Tuesday and the officials took out my husband from the house saying that they would need his help to perform a job,’ Shilpi said, adding that the police officials used to visit her house often.
New Age correspondent in Rangpur, quoting Kotowali police station officer-in-charge Babul Miah, reported that suspected ‘drug peddler’ Shahinur Rhaman, 30, of Suchanchowki area in Rangpur city was killed in a ‘gunfight’ at Hazirhat on the outskirts of the city early Wednesday.
Police seized a sack full of of Phensidyle and a pistol from the spot, Babul claimed.
New Age correspondent in Comilla, quoting Kotwali police station officer-in-charge Mohammad Abu Salam Mia, reported that suspected ‘top drug peddler’ Islam Isha, 35, of Gazipur village under Sadar upazila was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with police in Gomti dam area near Tikkarchar Bridge under the upazila early Wednesday. 
The police officer said that Nurul was wanted in seven cases.
In Gaibandha, suspected drug peddler Raju Miah of Raigram under Palashbari upazila in the district was killed in a reported gunfight with the Rapid Action Battalion at village Bisramgacchi under the upazila early Tuesday.
The battalion in text claimed that a pistol and a huge hemp were seized from the spot.
In Kushtia, alleged drug peddler Fatik alias Gaffar, 37, was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Lahinipara under Kumarkhali upazila, said Kumarkhali police station officer-in-charge Abdul Khaleq.
Police also seized a firearm, a bullet, 700 Yaba tablets and 500 grams of hemp from the spot, the police officer said.
Besides, Bheramara police station officer-in-charge Aminul Islam said Liton Sheikh, 40, of Naudapara of Bheramara upazila was killed in a reported gunfight near Hawakhali Brick Kiln under the upazila early Wednesday.
Police also seized a gun, three bullets, 500 Yaba tablets and some heroin from the spot, he said.
In Thakurgaon, suspected drug peddler Md Aftabul, 38, of Parua village under Baliadangi upazila was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Bhatarmari on Thakurgaon-Pirganj road under the upazila early Wednesday, said Baliadangi police station officer-in-charge AKM Sajedul Islam.
He said that Aftabul was wanted in 20 cases, including 15 under Narcotics Control Act, and police seized 100 bottles of Phensedyl from the spot.
New Age correspondent in Lalmonirhat, quoting district superintendent of police SM Rashidul Huq, reported that suspected drug peddler Nure Alam Eshar was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with police and suspected drug peddlers at Char Kulaghat under sadar upazila early Wednesday.
The police superintendent claimed that police seized a machete, Phenesedyl, hemp and heroin from the spot. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net