3 more killed in ‘gunfights’

Three more suspected drug peddlers were killed in ‘gunfights’ in three districts early Friday taking to 146 the number of people killed in the anti-drug drive across the country in the past 25 days amid continued protests against extrajudicial killings. 
Of the three, two were killed in ‘gunfights’ with police in Rangpur and Thakurgaon and the rest one in a ‘gunfight between two groups of drug peddlers in Dinajpur, police claimed. 
Besides, over 19,000 suspected drug peddlers or abusers were arrested by police and Rapid Action Battalion across the country during the drives. 
Communist Party of Bangladesh and Socialist Party of Bangladesh in a joint statement on Friday announced countrywide demonstration for Monday protesting at extrajudicial killings in the name of ‘gunfight’.
On Friday afternoon, cross-sections of people under the banner of ‘Lekhak-Shilpi-Chhatra-Shikkhak-Sangbadik-Sangskri
tikormi-Pesahjibi’ staged a demonstration in front of National Museum at Shahbagh to press home the same demand.
Addressing the demo, writer and online activist Rakhal Raha said the government was yet to take any effective initiatives to close the source of drugs and did not take any action against the police officials involved in drug peddling. 
He demanded actions against the ‘godfathers’ of drug gangs and law enforcers involved with drug peddling.
Lawyer and online activist Jibanananda Jayanta alleged that the government was trying to save the ‘godfathers’ by killing petty sellers or drug addicts in the name of anti-drug drive.
New Age correspondent in Rangpur, quoting assistant superintendent of police Saiful Islam, reported that suspected drug paddler Abu Musa alias Biskhali 35, of Honumantola Slum in Rangpur city, named in 12 cases, was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with police at Kukrul Ful Amertol area under city corporation early Friday. 
Police also seized a pistol, sharp weapons, 177 Yaba tablets and 52 bottles of Phensidyle from the spot.
In Thakurgaon, suspected drug peddler Shamim Hossain, 42, of village Bhabanandapur under Ranishankail in the district, named in several cases, was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with police at Bhadreshwaribandar of the upazila early on the day, said Ranishankoil police officer-in-charge Abdul Mannan.
He claimed that police recovered 340 pieces of Yaba tablets and two firearms from the spot.
In Dinajpur, police recovered the bullet-hit body of suspected drug peddler Abdur Razzak of village Danihari-Kanakpuri under Sadar upazila from Kharipara under the upazila around 2:45am, said Kotwali police officer-in-charge Redwanur Rahim.
The police officer said that they reached the scene after hearing sounds of a ‘gunfight’ and added that he might have been killed in a ‘gunfight’ between two groups of drug peddlers.
He said that they seized 100 bottles of Phenesedyl, one firearm and a machete from the spot.
Officials at Dhaka Metropolitan Police said that they arrested 93 suspected drug peddlers and addicts from different places of the capital and seized about three kilograms of hemp, 22,448 Yaba tablets and 854 small packs of heroin from their possession in 24 hours ending Friday 6:00am.
RAB in a text message at night said mobile courts in different places of the country jailed 81 drug peddlers and addicts. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net