Three suspected robbers and a drug peddler were killed in separate ‘gunfights’ at Nurullaghona hill and Dorgapara of Marine Drive road in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar early on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Md Junayed, 36, Ayub, 30, Mehedi Hasan, 35, and Imran Molla, 32, of Kalkini upazila in Madaripur.
Pradeep Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, said that on information, a team of police conducted a drive in Nurullaguna hill area at about 4:00 am when10-15 robbers including Junayed, Ayub were preparing to commit robbery in Kutubdia. Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the robbers opened fire on them, prompting them to fire back in self-defense that triggered a gunfight.
After the gun battle, police recovered severely injured Junayed, Mehedi and Ayub from the spot and took them to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital where doctors declared them dead, the OC said. Police claimed that additional superintendent of police Rezwan and inspector Manas Barua were shot during the gunfight. Three other cops also sustained injuries.
Police recovered seven locally-made LGs, five sharp weapons and 25 rounds of bullet from the spot, the OC added. In another incident, police recovered injured Imran Molla, who was severely wounded in an infighting between two groups of drug peddlers at Dorgapara of Marine Drive road at around 2am, said OC Pradeep Kumar Das.
Police took him to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital where doctor declared him dead. Police arrested two people in this connection. The detainees are Saifuddin Shahin, 38, of Sonaimuri upazila in Noakhali and Md Siddique, 27, of Hatirghona area in Teknaf upazila. The dead bodies were sent to hospital morgue for autopsy, the OC added.
